Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta state has chastised politicians, especially elected political office holders to stop the usage of motorcycles and other equipment as empowerment programmes to equip the youths of their constituencies.
The Governor who made the call Friday, at the maiden economic summit of the people of Aniocha/Oshimili Federal Constituency tagged, ‘Njiko Anioma Oshimili Economic Summit’ held at the Grand Hotels, Asaba, said political office holders and philanthropists should go beyond purchase of “motorcycles” for people but, train such persons to acquire relevant skills that will make them to be entrepreneurs.
“I am pleading that our politicians train the people to acquire skills and mentor them than just giving out motorcyles and other equipments as empowerment programmes; if the people are well trained and they work hard on their own, they can be job creators.”
“We have had a lot of success stories with our skill acquisition programmes and beyond what the government is doing, individuals, corporate organisations should find a way of assisting the people to acquire skills; we have provided a window for people to come from the private sector and bring youths for us to train and they will empower such persons while we mentor them,” Okowa said.
Governor Okowa however lauded the organisation of the first economic summits for people to look at how to grow their economies at their ethnic nationality levels and enjoined Deltans, who are doing well in their various chosen fields of life to come back home and be involved in the development of their communities.
While urging the people of Aniocha/Oshimili to look at ways to cultivate rice, as the area has a rice belt capable of feeding the state and beyond, the governor disclosed that the Federal Government was on the verge of placing a ban on the importation of rice and Deltans should be actively involved in agriculture which is one of the greatest employers of labour.
Governor Okowa used the occasion to assured the people of his administration’s commitment to the development of the state, adding that his administration was partnering with the private sector to provide low-cost housing for Deltans, road construction, ICT development, industrial parks, construction of the Asaba Stadium, among others.
Among the resource persons, Mr. Henry Okolo, Mr. Boniface Chizea, Mr. Innocent Isichei, Mr. Mike Ejiofor, Mr. Tony Iweaka, Mr. Sylvester Monye, Mr. Clement Ofuani, among others who spoke at the summit talked about the economic potentials of the area and how they can be harnessed to the benefits of the people.
Earlier in his welcome address, the convener of the summit, Mr. Epiphany Azinge stated that the summit was necessary for the people of the area to chart a course towards speedy economic growth.
