•Targets December 2016 for another massive youth empowerment
A Niger Delta based Non Governmental Organization, One Love Community Development and Promotion of Peace Initiative, OLCDPPI, have yesterday empowered no fewer than 210 youths in the Niger Delta creeks in pursuance of a crisis free region
The empowerment programme was done at the Youbebe Community town hall yesterday in the oil rich Ogulagha Kingdom in Burutu Local Government Area of Delta State.
However, according to the founder of the NGO, Dr. Apostle Tomone alleges that the youth orientation programme,YOP, was primarily driven to orient the Niger Delta youths about the need to engage in activities that will lead to the over all development of the region and society in general.
Dr. Tomone in his speech during the event, particularly charged the youths to be ambassadors of peace, stressing that beneficiaries should make full utilization of the opportunity given to them while noting that development will continue to elude a volatile environment.
In ensuring peace in the Niger Delta, Godspower in an interview with Gbaramatu Voice Newspaper condemned the spate of violence that have engulfed the region especially in recent times, while noting that peace remains the most viable option for the thorough development of the region.
“When these youths engage in productive activities, there will be peace, because they won’t have the time for destructive activities, that is what this NGO is focused on achieving. We bring them together, orient them, let them know that violence is not the way forward, it’s not the way peace can be achieved, rather it will raise more dust. For Niger Delta to be development we need peace, and for peace to be achieved, we need education, not violence, that is why we are orienting the youths for a better tomorrow”. He asserted
The founder of the NGO, further stated that his initiative have being in this business of humanitarian services since 2005, alleging that “Helping others has always been a part of me”.
The Niger Delta philanthropist explains that long before the formation of the NGO, he allegedly goes to primary schools within Ogulagha Kingdom to pay for those who cannot afford the Primary six enrollment fees and also pay for those enrolling for WAEC/NECO respectively and other examinations.
While calling for partnership from the government circle and multinational oil companies operating in the Niger Delta region, Apostle Godspower said the NGO’s programmes have been self-sponspored over the years and without doubt, it has been fruitful, alluding that the gains to be derived from such peace oriented venture cannot be overemphasized.
Giving the breakdown of the NGO in the empowerment exercise, he explains that the programme is in stages, it is done on a monthly basis, once new set of youths are engaged, the once before them graduates to another level until it gets to the third round where the youths are expected to pass out with different vocational skills and knowledge depending on what they fill in their forms.
Tomone further revealed that the Community development initiative have been empowering youths within Ogulagha Kingdom as it was alleged to have positively affected virtually every community that make up the Kingdom, emphasising that come December 2016, the NGO will make it open for other youths of the region to benefit.
Commenting on the volatile nature of the Niger Delta region, the Apostle called on the government to key into the initiative .
“My message to the government is that they should key into this youth orientation programme. Most youths, especially from oil producing areas are complaining, if nothing is been done, there is a tendency that they will carry arms and join their peers. If these youths are been oriented rightly, everyone will benefit from it, even the government, because hostility will definitely come to an end.” Tomone
In similar vein, the general cordinator and resource person of (OLCDPPI), Clement Oriwabor stated that the Non Governmental Organization is greatly concerned with what is happening in the Niger Delta region.
“The Federal Government is cocerned, The State Government is concerned, The Local Governement is concerned and One Love Community Development and Promotion of Peace Iniative is also concerned” Clement.
Reacting to the exercise, Paul Preboye, a beneficiary to the NGO on his part praised the initiator of the foundation while emphasising that the benefits to be achieved are numerous
“What this NGO is doing is indeed a good thing, because this is creating awareness for we the youths living in this part of the country where, it seems that we have been abandoned by successive governments. This will no doubt bring peace and development because through the NGO, we are being oriented to shun violence of any sort and embrace peace, they are training us and at the same time, helping us develop the gifts in us, thereby making us to engage in productive activities.” Paul
Meanwhile, in a sharp reaction to the development, the Ogulagha Kingdom Youths Association Secretary, Comr. Sarah James who is allegedly a beneficiary to the scheme thanked the founder for his laudable drive to see the sustenance of peace in the region.
According to her, “this NGO is training us to make us know our abilities, giving us platforms to utilize them and also taking us off the streets. Building us to do the right thing at the right time is what this NGO is doing , it is a good thing.This will bring peace and development because the NGO is orienting us, making us know that violence is not the way forward, instead, we should shun violence, embrace peace and engage in productive activities. The NGO is teaching us what will make us stand out.” Comr. Sarah stated.
The event was hugely attended by creams of community leaders, youth leaders, Niger Deltans with the host of others.
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