Mayor of Housing urges Niger Delta governors to set youth development targets, schemes

By BARBARA KALU, Port Harcourt –

State governors within the Niger Delta region have been called upon to strive to create targets and specific funds on youth development.

The call was made by the Mayor of Housing, My-ACE China, while speaking on the sidelines of the 50th Anniversary of the Commonwealth Youth wing, which was celebrated at the Ecumenical Centre in Port Harcourt on Wednesday.

The celebration involved notable leaders past and present of the Commonwealth including Dr Goodluck Jonathan, Rt Hon Patricia Scotland (Baroness of Scotland), Yusuf Maitama Tuggur, Prof Ahmed Adamu (pioneer chairperson of the Commonwealth Youth Council), Pastor David Ibiyeomie, Gov Sim Fubara, Dr Samuel Ogbuku of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), the Olu of Warri Ogiame Atuwatse 111, and some others.

He advised the governors of the region to know that their biggest asset is the youth demography that could be turned into what he called development machines.

The Mayor of Housing spoke on what he called ‘connection and disconnection’ with the 50 years of the Commonwealth Youth Council, explaining that the connection was that the youths form 60% or 1.8bn of the 2.5bn people that make up the Commonwealth. “This holds true with Nigeria where 60% of the over 200 million population is made of the youth.

“The Commonwealth priorities the youths with programmes while Nigeria which is one of the countries with highest youth population has no definite programme for youth inclusion. It has no programme for projects to lift up the youths as they emerge from childhood; it has no convincing programme for youth motivation that can give a young person hope in his country’s policy rollout.”

His regret is that at the global level of the Commonwealth the youth segment is being prioritized which is why this year has been set aside as their year with a theme: Global Youth Enlightenment; Climate Change and Peace for All Nations. In Nigeria, this demography is not being included but is seen as unimportant.

Olu of Warri, Ogiame Atuwatse 111 (red cap), addressing the audience

On the many icons and heroes being lined up by the Commonwealth Council to be celebrated, he commended the likes of Gov Fubara for being a youth as governor and for giving many opportunities to young people in justification of the theme of the Commonwealth at 59.

He pointed at three groups for special attention. “The first is the All-Stars Ensemble which won as the best musical group in the last competition in the comity of Commonwealth nations. They are being showcased here, they are resident here in the Niger Delta, in Rivers State, and in Port Harcourt. They are one of the best exports from Port Harcourt. They are a testament to all I have been preaching, that Rivers State is known as the Treasure Base of the Nation but that the real treasure is in its people, talents, and human resources rather than the crude oil everybody seems to chase after. That is one of the celebrated treasures of Port Harcourt and that is on show tonight.

“Also, I appreciate the providence and auspiciousness of Rivers State especially in this year of youths. We have a youth as governor; in this year of youth celebration, we have the youngest speaker in the House of Assembly; we have a long list of youths that have taken over at the local council level thereby proving evidence of youth-inclusion.”

L-R: Convener, Prince Iwefa Aganaba with Mayor of Housing

The CEO of the Housing and Construction mayor Limited, promoters of the proposed Alesa Highland Smart City in Eleme near Port Harcourt thus urged Gov Fubara who he said has already blazed the trail in youth upliftment to make efforts to bring in more youths that may not have been carried along so far in his effort to deliver dividends of democracy. “He can create programmes that will require the youths to bring in their creativity, energy, and drive to deliver.”

He also urged other governors of the Niger Delta and east to emulate the Commonwealth by creating youth programmes to transform the youths to leaders through skills, training, funding, dedicated projects, and international linkages through deliberate partnerships with global bodies.

The CEO went on: “Third person I want to particularly celebrate today is the Olu of Warri. This is auspicious time when we have the youths as focus of the Commonwealth, and one of the youthful and graceful kings is here with us. He not only supported this programme but left his home in Warri in the midst of media hypes about Port Harcourt being unsafe, to be here in person.
“He has made today for me. If Port Harcourt is safe enough for the youthful, handsome, and one of the most important kings in the Niger Delta, it is then safe enough for diplomats, tourists, and business people to come to Port Harcourt.”

Still on paradoxes of good and bad, the Mayor of Housing said: “I will not end this without expressing my paradox that is almost like a mysterious one, which is that 60% of our demography that is made up of youths is not included in governance planning, thus showing that the majority is treated as minority or negligible demography; the second paradox is that the beautiful city of Port Harcourt that is rich and endowed is rather seen all over the world as insecure and politically unstable.

“These two paradoxes are so mysterious to me that I cannot even believe that they are really happening.”

He revealed what he calls drastic drop in number of youths involved in violence since the days of militance in the Niger Delta, saying the flares once in a while do not represent the new Niger Delta.

“If you look at the percentage of youths involved in violence now, its nothing compared with the number of youths involved in militancy in the past. The number has drastically reduced.

“Youths are tired of violence, they are tired of unemployment, they are tired of crime. Youth of the Niger Delta are yearning to emerge; they are just looking for that environment and little support to push them.

“The last election in Rivers State (LGA election) was the most peaceful because the youths came out to defend democracy. The youths involved in violence have reduced to about 10%.

“Let it be known that the youths of the Niger Delta have woken up. They want to be productive but the question is whether the nation is ready to give them the chance to show their best.”

The Convener of the Commonwealth Youth Council 50 years anniversary celebration in Port Harcourt, Prince Iwefa Aganaba (PIA), noted in his welcome remarks that the event was devoted to unveil the globally reckoned All-Stars Ensemble.

He said the group was not just a choir but a concept of ‘edutainment’ using the beauty of choral music to shed light on global