By Our Correspondent
As part of its mission and objectives to promote transparency, accountability and inclusivity in the design, delivery, monitoring and evaluation of youth empowerment and employment programmes in Rivers State, a youth group known as Okana Youth Leadership Network has tasked the Rivers State government headed by Chief Nyesom Wike on job creation and creating a level playing ground for youths in the State to access these economic opportunities. This was part of the outcomes of the meeting of the group held with Odual Youth Assembly in Odua in Abua/Odual LGA in Rivers State.
The meeting which was facilitated by Port Harcourt based Non-Governmental Organization known as Centre for Environment, Human Rights and Development, CEHRD in conjunction with Nigeria Stability and Reconciliation Programme NSRP, a programme of the British Council, was aimed at exploring avenues of ensuring that the youths in the community and its environs are meaningfully engaged through the youth empowerment and employment programs of the government.
Michael Chidozie and Queen Agba, CEHRDs Project officers who facilitated the meeting on behalf of the organizations disclosed that the meeting was part of a youth empowerment project being implemented in Okana, Marine base and Kpor and other communities in the state by the organization on behalf of the NSRP which is aimed at reducing violence in the society. It is believed that if the employment and empowerment process is improved and youths are meaningfully and gainfully engaged, they will not have time to indulge in violence or restiveness, said Michael Chidozie shortly after the meeting.
The chairman of Odual Youth Assembly in his opening remark thanked everyone and enjoined all to make meaningful contributions during the meeting. He explained the group have been deprived from opportunities from the state. According to him, they hardly hear of any opportunities from the state, as that hinders them from keying into opportunities, since they hear about them when the programmes are concluded.
NSRP representative, Mr. Cosmas explained to the youths present what NSRP is all about. He pointed out the different programmes under NSRP and that the youth employment component falls under Output two. He further explained activities that have been carried out under the components as well as the annual review of conducted by consultants with the Odual Youth Assembly. Step by step, he showed what and how questions will be asked during the upcoming evaluation. He also suggested that the evaluation can be done in a closer centrally and more accessible community to encourage full turnout of the Odual Assembly during the evaluation and to get the needed result out of the process.
One of CEHRD representative, Michael Chidozie, explained what the youth network is all about, their activities, and how the Odual Youth Assembly can partner with the network to engage government and its agencies on resolving issues association with grievances related to shared economic opportunities in Rivers state and its LGAs, especially in Abual/Odual, Gokana and Marine base communities.
He further listed activities that have impacted the lives of several youths due to the contributory efforts of the Kpor, Okana and Marine Base Youth Leadership Networks. Some of the programmes he listed includes but not limited to:
23 persons both male and female who benefitted from the Industrial Trust Fund and Ministry of Youth Development Training from October to December 2014.
10 females who were trained by Rivers State Women Employment Branch Through National Directorate Of Employment at Federal Secretariat, Aba Road, Port Harcourt from 8th to 11th December 2015.
26 persons employed by local government, state agencies and other private companies especially in Gokana LGA from 2015 to 2016.
And 10 youth network members who were engaged as enumerators and supervisor by Rivers State Sustainable Development Agency (RSSDA) On Labour Market Assessment among others.
The house agreed that the Odual Youth Assembly should collaborate and participate in the activities of the youth leadership network. This will open doors for more collaboration, opportunities and information sharing especially as it concerns the availability of youth employment and empowerment programmes in Rivers state and how to access and benefit from such numerous schemes.
About the Network
The Okana Youth Leadership Networks were formed in 2014 by the youths of Okana community through Centre for Environment, Human Rights and Development with support from Nigeria Stability and Reconciliation Programme, NSRP to carry out enlightenment campaigns within the community on the importance of using non-violent actions in the demand for economic opportunities for the youths, enlighten communities on how to key into governments employment and empowerment programmes, and advocate for an equitable distribution of government programmes within the community, L.G.A and senatorial district.
