Delta Governor, Sen. (Dr) Ifeanyi Okowa, has charged youths in the state to leverage the various skills acquisition and entrepreneurial development programmes of his administration to extricate themselves from poverty.
He made the call while opening the maiden annual retreat of the youth wing of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Aniocha North Local Government Area chapter at Unity Hall, Issele-Uku.
The governor stated that youths endowed with skills as entrepreneurs were the leaders of contemporary and competitive global economy.
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Represented by the Commissioner for Information, Mr Charles Aniagwu, he commended the organisers of the programme for the laudable initiative, adding that youths’ issues were very central to the heart of his administration.
The governor stressed that strategic wealth creation, which was targeted at creating employment for the youths was the best way to fight poverty by creating employment for able-bodied youths.
The governor added that what Nigeria had suffered as a nation was the idea of individuals who believed that one would “always bring fish to them and we have lost a lot of skilled manpower through this idea.
“But, moving forward, I am sure that this idea will change when the wealth is circulated within our economy.
“Poverty makes you afraid of the truth so that the man who will feed you does not change his mind. So, being trained and becoming an entrepreneur helps you to regain that freedom which democracy has given to you.”
In a keynote address, the Commissioner for Youths Development in the state, Comrade Ifeanyi Egwunyenga, said that youths were the drivers of development in any economy, adding that their understanding of the role of youths in the scheme of things was key.
He pointed out that the Stronger Delta agenda of Okowa’s administration was aimed at developing the non-oil sector through up-scaling of wealth creation programmes for youths in the state.
The retreat featured panel discussion, interactive sessions as well as questions and answers.
