Speaker of the Rivers State Youth Leaders Assembly, Amb (Dr) Tonye Jemininiema (l) presenting a plaque to the mayor of Housing, My-ACE China
By BARBARA KALU, Port Harcourt –
The Mayor of Housing, My-ACE China, who has emerged patron of the apex youth assembly in Rivers State, has revealed what he calls “secrets of success and the place of profit-making and co-ownership of your employer’s business.”
The real estate success strategist, who is also the CEO of the Construction and Housing Mayor Limited, spoke after his induction as member and installation as patron of the Rivers State Youth Leaders Assembly (RSYLA) in Port Harcourt at the weekend.
Speaking to newsmen, the Mayor of Housing referred to the mantra of the RSYLA being productivity and proactivity. He urged the young people, in terms of productivity which is ruled by skill and labour, to aspire to be very strong in a skill and so productive in it that they would be globally competitive.
He stated: “As the richest black woman, Oprah Winfrey, counselled young Americans, be so good in your skill that the world cannot ignore you.”
Mr China asked the youths to emulate Tobi Amusan who he said has upped her game to become a global product in the huddles. “So, the youth of Rivers State, I say to you, if you have one skill or one talent or the other, don’t look at just Rivers State or even Nigeria as your platform but look at the global stage, the whole world. Become so good that the world cannot ignore you.”
On the place of labour, the real estate success strategist counselled: “If you are not skilled and you think you have no talent, put in so much labour in something very productive that gives you profit. This is because profit is freedom but wage-earning is captivity by your employer.”
When you make profit, he went on, you are free to do with it whatever you wish, but when you make wages, you are more tied to the whims and caprices of the man who pays you. “So, for the youths to be free from the government and employers, find something productive that you can do for profit that government cannot stop you and employers cannot stop you.”
For those that are employees, he stated, the new employee attitude is ‘ownership’ mentality. “Wherever you work as an employee, assume responsibility as if you were the owner of that place. Endeavour to produce enough for the owner to reckon with you. And, in case something happens, you can also start your own.
“The minimum requirement in employeeship is at least part ownership of the department where you work. If you can’t own the whole department, own at least the part you control. Take full responsibility for productivity and take full profitability as if it is all yours.”
In terms of proactivity, he advised the youths of the oil state to see it as a to speak out on the good things he said were happening in the state. “If you see something good, say something good. For instance, yesterday, August 1, 2024, the governor of the state was the only governor that came out to engage the protesters to find solution.
“The onus is on the youths of the state to project it as the best thing happening in Rivers State. So, project the state so much that outsiders would want to come and feel what you are feeling.
“You should consciously depress and compress and kill negativity and consciously proactively project and celebrate the best of Rivers State for the rest of the world to experience.
“We the young people have the numbers. If our four million youths go to their social media handles to post one thing, it would be bigger than any world news channel. If laudable things are happening in your state, be proactive enough as a youth and laud it.”
On the award bestowed on him, the Mayor of Housing he was honoured to be at the hallowed chamber of the Rivers State Youth Leadership Assembly. He said it was no burden but a delight.
“I am laden with so much value that they call me Africa’s biggest value monger. Value mongering is like you are looking for where value is, you are looking for how to multiply value, and how to spread value.”
He said he had been obsessed thinking of how to extend his value in community development and cooperate social responsibility (CSR) beyond where his project is currently domiciled (Alesa in Eleme Local Government Council area). “I was thinking of how we can scale it to the 23 LGAs of the state. Now, seeing the Rivers State Youth Leaders Assembly made of leaders from the 23 local council areas, having a single speaker here in Port Harcourt, having a single secretariat here in Port Harcourt, they have just saved me the headache of going to the 23 LGAs to look for leaders of youths for youth development programmes that would go across the state. You have given me a single funnel to reach all. It is thus not like a burden but a eureka; the discovery of something great.”
Responding after accepting the membership and patronship, China said he was impressed by the touch of excellence, productivity and proactivity he met at the chamber.
He said: “See how you have used limited resources here from what I can see. I am also impressed with how your eyes have picked out those that are really doing good things in this state. We have been doing things in entertainment and at Alesa (housing business) but you must have the right eyes for you to have spotted us. If you were not pro-development, you would not see development. So, keep it up.”
He said he has noted their proactivity in separating his being a member from being awarded patron. “It is important that this organization is not only registered with the Rivers State government but also with the Federal Government (Corporate Affairs Commission) and the United Nations.
“We will work together to promote the values of this group.” He listed areas of collaboration and support to the Assembly especially accommodation and transportation in the near future.
He said the early release of his land papers in Alesa would quicken the take-off of the proposed Alesa Highland Sustainable Smart City expected to boast of the biggest mall in the south-south/south-east. He said it would be the only estate where the aboriginal owners that got payments for their lands would also have 10% equity stake in it.
The Mayor of Housing said he was often motivated when ridiculed and urged the youth leaders to act to prove wrong those who termed them lazy.
He said: “The number one youth in this state is Gov Sim Fubara, but he just shook the nation in this period of protests. He made the striking difference by stepping out and standing with the protesters and talking with them.
“He is also my housing icon because soon after being inaugurated, he floated the 20,000 low-cost housing scheme. This is higher than the FG has ever done in one time.
“He has also maintained project continuity; the first governor ever to embark on this, to continue projects started since the return of democracy in the state (since the Peter Odili era). So, he is a continuity legend.
“It is now the duty of the youth leadership in the state to prove the world wrong to show that the youths of Rivers State are productive. The Governor is a shining light, so prove that Rivers State has good youths.”
Explaining the attributes that attracted them to the Mayor of Housing, the speaker, Amb/Dr Tonye Jemininiema, was a onetime chairmanship candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC), the body is young with him as the first speaker.
He listed the first achievement of the RSYLA as their successful mobilisation of support to the goodwill and administration of His Excellency, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, the executive governor of Rivers State. He said this ranged from solidarity messages in the media to successful hosting of solidarity rallies for His Excellency. He said they garnered support from all the local council areas to support the administration.
“This is the first time we have seen a governor who has carried the youth along in all ramifications; education, healthcare delivery, payment of salaries, promotion of civil servants, etc.”
He denied any charged of partisanship, saying what they do is the duty of Assembly to showcase hopes and aspirations of the people through their governor and to compliment the efforts of governments at all levels; be it federal, state, or local governments.
“Recently we commended the action of the President and Commander-In-Chief of the Federal Republic for approving the increased and cost revision of the construction of the Bodo-Bonny Road (from N120Bn to N199Bn to now N280Bn). That is not partisan action.
“The Assembly is in Rivers State and our constitution provides that the Governor of Rivers State is the Grand Patron, not minding the human person occupying that office at any particular time. We are supporting him because he has been able to deliver the dividends of democracy to the good people of Rivers State, particularly on employment of Rivers youths.”
He poured encomiums on the Mayor of Housing, saying: “I am happy that the Rivers State Youth Leadership Assembly has fished out another prominent Nigerian in the person of My-ACE China for all he has been doing since he came into Rivers State some few years ago.
“He has been able to discharge that capability within him to extend to Rivers youths in areas of empowerment, employment, etc. We are trying to fish out the good things some people have been able to do. God asked humans to reach out to the less-privileged ones. That is what he has been doing.”
He commended what he called the proactive action of the Governor of Rivers State. “It is not easy that such a protest was carried out in all of the 36 states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory but it was only the governor of Rivers State that came out boldly to engage millions of protesters to pacify them.
“Today (August 2, 2024) is the second day, you will find that the state is very peaceful. This means that the people of this state have regard and respect for Gov Fubara. If not, this state is a very dogged state oh. It is a very peculiar state where you have heads of almost all the militant cells. These are people who shut down pipelines, etc, and crippled the economy of Nigeria. Today, Rivers State is absolutely peaceful.”
He advised the youths to continue to embrace peace, which he said is the bedrock of development. “The governor I know is going to ensure that their dreams and aspirations will be fully fulfilled.”
The clerk of the assembly, Hon/Comrade Edward Odum, in his vote of thanks, said the body is behind the Mayor of Housing. “And we are sure to work with and grow with you.”
The minority leader, Hon Helen Ogene, said the prayer group in the Assembly would pray ceaselessly with the new patron so that his desires and plans would come through.
Other members of the leadership that attended the installation include the majority leader, Amb. Mie-iyene Pollyn, and Head, Media & Publicity, Hon/Comrade Dawari George.
Many programmed were lined for execution in the coming weeks to help build the base upon which the youths of Rivers State would find purpose and discover their paths in life.
