Akpabio: I Dropped Out Of School Twice Over Funds Challenges

Senate president, Senator Godswill Akpabio has spoken of how he had to drop out of school twice because he could not meet up with the financial demands of his education pursuit.

But he said he never gave up the fight to become a graduate despite the oddities, hence his ability to complete his studies and continue with his life. The senate president spoke at the NDDC executive management engagement with Niger Delta ethnic nationalities and selected stakeholders in Port Harcourt.

Akpabio recalled the trauma he faced in his early life as a student to demonstrate the fact that if there had existed a loan facility for students during his time, as has been introduced by President, Bola Tinubu, he might not have dropped out of the school.

Saying that with such a gesture from the Tinubu government, there was no basis for students to get into the streets to protest bad governance and hunger, in obedience to the call for #Endbadgovernance protest which begins across the country on August 1.

At the event, Akpabio also flagged off a new scheme initiated by the NDDC, meant to empower 10,000 youths of the Niger Delta region. The youths will be paid a monthly stipend of N50,000 during the first phase.

Giving details of the scheme, Akpabio said the 10,000 youths would be engaged in a programme designed to improve their skills, noting that the beneficiaries in the first phase would be paid, adding that Tinubu was committed to the development of the Niger Delta region.

He commended the NDDC for restoring some damaged sections of the East-West Road and assured that the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Road project would not only commence from Lagos but would also start simultaneously from the Niger Delta.

Managing Director of the NDDC, Dr Samuel Ogbuku, in his speech said the people of the Niger Delta region had since transited from militant agitation to intellectual struggle, noting that the region was now reaping the benefits of the struggles.

He said: “We have given more opportunities and hope to Niger Delta youths through our Holistic Opportunity Projects of Engagement, HOPE, meant to identify interests of the youths for skills training.

The NDDC boss said that the Project HOPE had helped the Commission to develop a comprehensive digital repository, comprising important information about the youths of the Niger Delta region; including their qualifications, skills, interests, needs, and current employment status.

Ogbuku remarked that the NDDC was working with the Niger Delta Chamber of Commerce in the training of youths and young entrepreneurs in the Niger Delta region. He explained that the Commission would collaborate with the Chamber of Commerce to support Small and Medium Enterprises in the region and ensure the sustainability of youth development programmes.

He added: “We will also partner with the Bank of Industry to fund projects and support businesses and facilitate the success of our empowerment programmes. We will provide all the necessary support for youth entrepreneurship schemes.”

Ogbuku urged Niger Deltans not to be lured into any protest that would destabilise the country, as such action was bound to hinder development and further impoverish the ordinary people.

In his goodwill message, the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Benjamin Kalu, emphasised that it was only in unity and peace that progress could be achieved. He lauded the Board and Management of the NDDC for working hands in gloves to develop the Niger Delta region.