Jonathan To Open Ijaw Youth World Summit

Funsho Arogundade

President Goodluck Jonathan will next week declare open the first ever Ijaw Youth Council World Summit scheduled to hold at the Petroleum Training Institute, PTI, Effurun, Warri, Delta State, southern Nigeria.

The IYC World summit, themed “Partnering For Prosperity and Sustainable Development”, holding from 9 to 11 September,  is expected to be attended by over 1,000 delegates, including youths, government officials, community and religious leaders and various stakeholders from the Niger Delta.

Comrade Udengs Eradiri, President, Ijaw Youth Council, said the summit is special because it is coming from the Council, which reflects the fact that it is time for a more non-confrontational approach that will give stakeholders a platform for engagement and discussion aimed at addressing the various challenges confronting the youths of the Niger Delta region such as high unemployment rate, lack of prospect and youth restiveness.

He also added that the summit will equally come forward with possible solutions to those challenges such as creating a prosperous, stable and secured environment in the region, empowering, educating and enlightening the young minds that have been willing to learn, and give them the avenue to chase their dreams and create better livelihood for themselves and the society, while also aiming at promoting sustainable growth, development and integration in the entire Niger Delta.

Joining President Jonathan in declaring open the summit are his wife and First Lady, Mrs. Patience Jonathan who is the mother of the day and all the governors of the Niger Delta States including host governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta State, governors Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa State, Godswill Akpabio of Akwa Ibom State, Adams Oshiomole of Edo State, Olusegun Mimiko of Ondo State, Liyel Imoke of Cross River State, and Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State.

Other dignitaries expected at the event include Dr. Steve Oru, Ministers of Niger Delta Affairs; Mr. Boni Haruna, Minister for Youth Development; Dr. Tamuno Danagogo, Minister for Sports; Mrs Diezani Allison-Madueke, Minister for Petroleum Resources; Hajia Zainab Maina, Minister for Women Affairs and Social Development and Mr. Kingsley Kuku, Special Assistant to the President on Niger Delta Affairs, among others.

The Ijaw Youth Council World Summit 2014 is being sponsored by the Bank of Industry, Taleveras Group, ASCON Oil, Office of the Presidential Amnesty Programme, Niger Delta Development Commission, Heritage Bank, and NIMASA.