N/Delta Group Tasks Youths On Leadership
2 min read
Edith CHUKU
A sociopolitical group, the Niger Delta Youth Organization, NDYO, has charged youths of the oil rich region to prepare themselves for future leadership.
NDYO gave the charge in Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State capital, when members of board of trustees of the organisation visited the state on a facts finding mission.
According to them, “NDYO is a sociopolitical organization with positive intent to liberate youths of the Niger Delta from poverty, unemployment, political servitude, negligence, deprivation and total suffering in the hands of oppressive leaders through training of members on skills acquisition as well as creating awareness on participation in politics.
“Our mission is to mobilize, train, educate and engage millions of youths in the Niger Delta into positive thinking on their rights through peace, support for good governance and unity.”
The leadership of the youth group hinted that with time, the group would move to draw the attention of interventionist agencies in the region such as the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs and the various state governments on the need to empower the youths.
They called on youths of the region to embrace peace and study hard to get themselves ready so as not to play a second fiddle in the arena of decision making in Nigeria, even as members of the group in Bayelsa State were urged to preach the good news of the organisation to all parts of the state and win more members to it.
Speaking in an interview with TNN, the national secretary, Mr Ben Okung enjoined members to ensure they register and secure the Permanent Voters Card (PVC) to enable them vote in the right leaders who shared the same ideologies with NDYO.
The secretary said “you must be ready to serve, prepare yourselves for service, avoid antisocial vices, be God-fearing and be involved in politics.”
He revealed that the state with the highest number of members across the nine states of the Niger Delta would be rewarded with school fees for a semester for two undergraduates and two SSS-3 students as scholarship.
Highlights of the event include a football match in honour of the founder and governing council chairman of NDYO, presentation of gift items such as new Android phones to deserving members for their dedication and commitment, unveiling and dedication of NDYO crested T-shirts and face caps, inauguration of the Bayelsa State executive council of the organisation amongst other activities.
In his acceptance speech, the Bayelsa State coordinator of the group, Mr. Philip Akpotunimibofa Lazarus, promised to embark on a radical membership drive, vowing not to betray the confidence reposed in him and members of the state executive council.
