NAGS CONVENTION: Re-evaluation strategy panacea to sustainable development – Scholar

For leadership of sustainable development in Gbaramatu kingdom, there is need to re-evaluate strategy with a view to making necessary improvement to a winning formula.

A guest lecturer, Dr. Bello Oboko stated this at the 4th convention of National Association of Gbaramatu Students, NAGS, held at the Kurutie take-off campus of Nigerian Maritime University, Okerenkoko.

Speaking under the convention theme, Scholarship For Niger Delta ‘A veritable Tool For Regional Emancipation’, Dr. Bello said it was high time everyone particularly the youths develop a renew thought pattern both in words and actions.

The Gbaramatu Chief who titled his lecture ‘Renaissance Leadership for Sustainable Development in The Niger Delta: The Gbaramatu Example’ added that youths must condemn the scourge of internal slavery, neocolonialism and structural deformity that characterized the obsolete colonial era in all forms and ramifications, and, proclaim what defines their freedom and genuine peace in the society.

Also delivering his lecture at the convention, another guest lecturer, Dr. Ben Binabai of the Department of Theatre Arts, Niger Delta University, noted that stunted progress in the Niger Delta region was as a result of backwardness in education.

According to the Scholar, scholarship in the Niger Delta is facing serious political, religion and regional threats, hence Niger Deltans must stand for their rights to education.

The University Don said Niger Delta struggle is a continuous one and it must be fought until subjugation and oppression to the region ends.

Doctor Binebai who was apparently worried at the rate at which Ijaws are single handedly fighting and dying for the entire Niger Delta region, called for the Ijaws to negotiate whatsoever they need for themselves and stop fighting for the entire region.

He noted that the Igbos have Biafra as their cause, the Yorubas have Oduduwa as their cause, and the Hausas have Arewa as their cause, hence the Ijaws must have their own cause and not the Niger Delta cause.

 Dr. Alfred Mulade in his lecture said with the establishment of the Nigerian Maritime University, Okerenkoko, Gbaramatu kingdom would be a hub of marine activities in Nigeria.

He further noted that with the Nigerian Maritime University coming to the kingdom there was need for all to change their ways of life.

While stating that the Maritime University, Okerenkoko is the first in Nigeria and third in Africa, Dr. Mulade said there was need for Niger Deltans, particularly the Gbaramatu people and the Ijaws in general to take charge hence the imperative of education.

Giving his own lecture, Dr. Bello Oboko said it was high time everyone particularly the youths develop a renew thought pattern both in words and actions.

The Gbaramatu Chief added that youths must condemn the scourge of internal slavery and neocolonialism and structural deformity that characterized the obsolete colonial era in all forms and ramifications, and, proclaim what defines their freedom and geniue peace in the society.