By Sam Akadoro/Sapele
The youths play a critical role in the development of all nations and communities. They stand in the middle between children and the elderly. The youths are effective in development if they are organised and speak with one voice. This is why many communities in Nigeria have youth associations.
In the bid to help the youths develop their full potential, the national president of Okpe Youth Council (OYC), Felix Oborodowan, has inaugurated the executive officers for the Elume District of Ibada-Elume to run the affairs of the council following the expiration of the tenure of the last executive officers.
Those inaugurated were Mr. Pemu Peter (coordinator), Mr. Odjegba Victor (assistant coordinator), Mr. Otaroghene Spanic (secretary general), Olalehe E. Priscilla (assistant secretary general), Avabohayene Sarah (woman leader), Mr. Ikwiwi Vincent (financial secretary), Abel Akpobasa (auditor), Moses Adjejewe (organising secretary), Festus Uzo (assistant organising secretary).
Others were Akpojunor Blessing (Director of Welfare) Otaroghene Moses (director of socials), Iboyitie Gift Omonigho (director of publicity), Ugbogbo Famous (security), Imoniokpe Shadrack (adviser), Obodo Daniel (treasurer), Erayitene Michael (director of mobilisation), and Akpofunuru Tennyson (assistant director of socials)
Oborodowan said he was happy that Okpe people gathered to reason together and proffer solutions to what he described as “our neglected but blessed Okpe Kingdom” adding that “there is a serious re-awakening presently in Okpe”.
He said it was time for action to develop Okpe, adding the council is a non-partisan, non-political group that comprises bright, disciplined and courageous Okpe sons and daughters, cutting across the 12 administrative districts in Okpe Kingdom with headquarters at Orerokpe.
Oborodowan stated that HRM, Orhue I, Orodje of Okpe Kingdom is thei grand patron of the council, adding that J.T Okpokpo (SAN), Chief John Ebireri, Professor Hope Eghagha, Commissioner for Higher Education, Chief (Mrs.) Roselyn Egborge, Registrar, FUPRE, Madam Ojeme Ughwrujakpor of the Federal Road Safety Corp, Mr. Austine Ayemidejor, Director Delta State Airport Project and Mr. Randy Okotie, Director Richards Continental Hotel Sapele are members of the council.
He said the vision of the council is to ensure good governance in order to fast rack the social and economic development of Okpe Kingdom, while their mission is to ensure proper representation of the Okpe people in the political scheme in Delta State in particular and Nigeria in general, stating that their motto is “On peace, justice and progress, we stand”.
The president said their aims and objectives include ensuring peace and unity in Okpe Kingdom, providing an enabling environment that will attract investors to Okpe Kingdom, ensuring good governance in Okpe Kingdom, negotiating for the delivery of things that are due to Okpe people, organising seminars/programmes that are geared towards youth enlightenment/empowerment in Okpe Kingdom, assisting one another in times of need, finding jobs for the indigenes and to liaise with r international agencies that provide succour to the communities.
The Okpe youth leader added that their objective is to train the mind and character of the youths, foster a sense of belonging amongst them, provide empowering avenues for them that will take them off the streets and reduce crime to the barest minimum. He commended sons and daughters of the kingdom, who have in one way or the other contributed to the development of Okpe Kingdom.
Oborodowan, who described Okpe as the most populous mono-ethnic nationality in Delta State, noted that back into 1970’s and 1980’s, it was recorded that Sapele was the third most developed city in Nigeria after Lagos and Calabar, adding that the kingdom needed urgent development and infrastructure to move it forward.
He remarked that for them to achieve their dreams, the weapons they need are unity, hope, courage, persistence, faith and love, stressing that with faith and unity, they would be able to transform the kingdom into a beautiful symphony of brotherhood and with love they will be able to work together, to pray together, and to stand up for freedom.
He listed the chain of projects the Okpe Youth Councils had executed to include their involvement in peace processes in the kingdom, organising seminars for secondary school students, seminars for youths entitled “Say no to electoral violence”, soliciting for admission into higher institutions for Okpe indigenes, uniting the 12 districts in Okpe Kingdom, organising youth seminar entitled “Dialogue, a better weapon than violence” during the maiden Okpe Youth World Conference in August 2013. He added that their meetings were held in the various districts in the kingdom, with all the districts coordinators preparing ground for each meeting.
Oborodowan charged the new officers to report issues of the youths in Elume District and to the National Executive whose tenure will expire November 2015, telling that their functions include ensuring that there is peace in every community in Elume district, interfacing with the Elume district and national body, protecting the boundary in Elume district, and to mobilising the youths of Elume district as and when necessary.
High points of the event included an opening remark by Austin Owosubo, opening remark by Peter Pemu, presentation of certificate to the newly sworn in officers by Oborodowan.