By Brave Dickson
The chiefs of Okochiri kingdom in Okrika Local Government Area of Rivers State have given their support to the genuine job seeking agenda of the recently inaugurated
Rivers State Professional Artisans Council (RSPAC) by Governor Nyesom Wike of the state.
The state governor through the state ministry of employment generation and empowerment legalized the professional artisans council in line with his administration’s resolve to create no fewer than one million jobs in the state.
The Okochiri chiefs whose names were yet to be ascertained as at the time of filing this report, warmly received the state leadership of the professional artisans council during a courtesy visit on the chiefs by the group in Okochiri kingdom and reiterated the non violence stance of the King of Okochiri kingdom, His Royal Majesty, King Ateke Tom and urged the state professional artisans to remain law abiding.
The Chiefs who gave the professional artisans their royal advice said: “His Royal Majesty does not like violence. He (King Ateke) is a man of peace and he likes empowering people especially the youths in order to make them have means of livelihood.
“We can assure you that His Royal Majesty will support you to get jobs if only you will remain peaceful and law abiding. We therefore enjoin you all to shun social vices and be honest and responsible job seekers if you really need the support of His Royal Majesty.”
Speaking on behalf of the delegation, the National President of RSPAC, Comrade Hero Jack thanked the chiefs for their support and promised that he and his members will remain peaceful and law abiding as they have always been.
Comrade Jack said: “We have always been peaceful and law abiding and we will sustain same.
We have come to seek the royal support of Okochiri council of chiefs in our quest to get employment which is the sole reason upon which the Rivers State Professional Artisans Council was flagged off by our promise keeping Governor, His Excellency, Nyesom Wike.
“We use this medium to express our deep profound gratitude to our youth friendly King, His Royal Majesty, King Ateke Tom and his council of chiefs for this warmth reception. We are grateful to have your support which we believe will greatly enhance our chances of employment in the state.
“With all humility and fairness, we have enough qualified and skilled professionals that can fit into all employment sectors of the economy and thus need supports from our elders and fathers like you that can help recommend us to employers of labour in the state.
“What we need is equal employment opportunities to enable us render our services to our nation which will also give us means of livelihood. When our fellow youths that are out there in the street see that our peaceful approach to life has secured us employments, they will emulate same and the tendency to go into social vices will be drastically reduced in our society.”
Our correspondent reports that the group also has a membership of about 135, 000 professional artisans drawn from the 23 local government areas of the state with both higher academic certificates and vocationally certified in all fields of employment endeavours.
