The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) has charged youths in the Niger Delta to shun cultism, drugs and other social vices.
The commission’s Interim Administrator, Effiong Akwa, gave the charge during a programme organised to mark the International Youth Day 2021 in Calabar, Cross River State.
Akwa, who was represented by his Special Adviser on Youths and Sports, Udengs Eradiri, said cultism and drug abuse were part of the evils threatening the well-being and existence of Nigerian youths.
He said the commission had also identified the youths as critical stakeholders in the county, noting that the commission was working on various skill acquisition programmes to engage the youths positively.
The administrator also disclosed that the commission has put in some efforts to create a conducive environment for the youths and part of its ongoing review of the suspended NDDC scholarship scheme to achieve a more positive impact.
Akwa explained that the commission would no longer waste its scarce resources to send students abroad to study courses available in the country. However, he said only students interested in special courses not offered in Nigerian schools would be sent abroad for studies.
According to him, the NDDC would spend the resources upgrading schools in the country, especially in the Niger Delta region, to absorb its scholarship students.
“We are reviewing the scholarship scheme. We are trying to reach out to schools in the Niger Delta. We want to go into partnership with these schools, upgrade their facilities to international standards.
“These schools will affiliate with NDDC and will run their programmes seamlessly. Only students for special courses not available in Nigerian schools will be sent abroad for studies”.
Lead Facilitator and chairman, Young Professionals of Nigeria (YPN), Moses Siloko Siasia, commended the NDDC for the programme.
Advising the youths, he said: “I had a choice to go into drugs, we lost our father, and we saw poverty. Drug abuse and cultism are wiping out our generation. Young people are addicted to drugs. Some are joining cults, and others have made up their minds to engage in illegal activities. Life is about choices.
“The choice I made many years ago has brought me where I am. I have never tested drugs. I have never joined cultism, but today, I am being celebrated because I remained focused. Read the stories of the richest men in Nigeria. They were not involved in drugs and cultism. You have a choice before you if you want to take charge of your future.
“You must start small to grow big. People want to be like me, but they don’t know what I have grown through. I have over 480 people working for me, and at the end of the month, I pay salaries”.
The Commissioner for International Relations, Cross River, Inyang Asibong, also commended NDDC for creating more awareness and mentorship to prevent youths from engaging in social vices.
The event’s highlight was the distribution of e-learning devices to secondary school students, undergraduates and youths in the Niger Delta to enhance access to knowledge.
