OBAZELE, ORJI, EKIYE STORM NIGER DELTA FOR YOUTH EMPOWERMENT INITIATIVE

Orji & Ekiye
A talent hunt programme tagged: Youth Empowerment Through Entertainment, aimed at promoting peace and sensitizing Niger-Delta youths against violence, especially during the forthcoming general elections, began amid praises and ovations this Sunday, January, 16, at the Diete Spiff Civil Centre, Port-Harcourt, Rivers State.

Proudly being powered by the Federal Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs, the famous trio of Paul Obazele, Zack Orji and Asu Ekiye, are the organizers and prime movers of the well applauded outing that is expected to last for six weeks.

Speaking at a recent media briefing, the organizers disclosed that all the Niger Delta states will benefit immensely from the exercise, which also have the endorsement and approval of President Goodluck Jonathan. In their words:

'We are taking this youth empowerment programme round the nine Niger Delta states to help discover and engage the youth of these areas constructively and positively. We are starting with Rivers State. The other states we will be storming for this once in a life time opportunity training are, Delta, Bayelsa, Akwa-Ibom, Cross River, Ondo, Abia and Imo.

And in each of these states, ten winners will emerge in both the acting and music talent hunt initiatives. We have lined up tested and trusted resource persons drawn from the nation's entertainment industry.

They will be storming the programme with their wealth of experience gathered over the years as veterans. Also, these ten winners from each of these states, aside becoming instant stars will also go home with mouth watering prizes.'

Continuing, the trio further hinted that they decided to embark on the training aspect because both the acting and music industries have the potentials to absorb millions of jobless youths. 'We do not want these idle youths to be engaged by desperate politicians ahead of the coming elections, so we have decided to empower and keep them busy positively'.

They also thanked President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan and Elder Orubebe, the Minister of Niger Delta, whose quest to empower the youths through the channels of showbiz, culminated in the youth empowerment project.

'This project is in line with the wishes of President Jonathan and we are committed to making it a great success, because the lives of Niger Delta youths will never be the same after this laudable initiative'.