President Jonathan, Others To Grace IYC World Summit In Warri
SAN FRANCISCO, October 06, (THEWILL) - President Goodluck Jonathan as well as Governors of the Niger Delta States are expected to grace the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) World Summit scheduled to hold between October 9 and 10 in Warri, the commercial nerve centre of Delta State.
The summit, with the theme : Partnering for Prosperity and Sustainable Development, was earlier scheduled to hold between September 9 and 11 .
In a statement by issued on Sunday by the President of IYC, Comrade Udengs Eradiri, the group said the summit which will hold at the Conference Centre of the Petroleum Training Institute (PTI), Effurun-Warri, Delta State, will be declared open by President Jonathan who is expected as the Special Guest of Honour at the event.
According to the statement, President Jonathan would be joined in declaring the summit open by the First Lady of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Dame (Dr.) Mrs. Patience Jonathan, who will be the Mother of the Day with Chief (Dr.) Edwin K. Clark as the Father of the Day.
The statement said that all the Governors of the Niger Delta, including the Host Governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta State, Governors Seriake Dickson, Godswill Akpabio of Akwa Ibom State, Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State, Olusegun Mimiko of Ondo State, Liyel Imoke of Cross River State and Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State are also expected at the summit.
The statement said in the post amnesty era, one of the biggest challenges now facing the Niger-Delta region, just like other parts of the country, is lack of engagement for both skilled and unskilled youths despite the acquisition of various skills through the Presidential Amnesty programme and other avenues of training.
The statement said the Summit therefore seeks to set a new agenda by redirecting the focus of the youths of the Niger Delta on agriculture, job creation, promoting small and medium scale enterprises (SME), empowering, educating and enlightening the young minds to take advantage of the opportunities available in the agro and allied sector to create better livelihood for themselves and the society.
The statement added that over 1,000 delegates, including youths, government officials, women groups, community and religious leaders, and various stakeholders from the Niger Delta are expected to attend the event, which would be a platform of engagement for government, communities and organisations.
It also disclosed that resource persons in wealth creation would speak on promoting sustainable growth, development and integration of the Niger Delta.
Other dignitaries expected at the event, according to the statement, include the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Dr. Steve Oru; Minister for Youth Development, Alhaji Boni Haruma; Minister for Sports, Dr. Tamuno Danagogo; Minister for Petroleum Resources, Dr. (Mrs) Diezani Allison- Madueke; Minister for Women Affairs and Social Development, Hajia Zainab Maina; Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta Affairs, Hon. Kingsley Kuku; Senior Special Assistant to the President on MDG, Dr. (Mrs) Precious Gbeneol.
Other are the Director General, NIMASA, Mr. Patrick Ziakede Akpobolokemi; MD, Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Sir. Bassey Dan Abia; and Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board, Engr. Ernest Nwapa.
Chief Executive Officers of multinational oil companies operating in the Niger-Delta Region are also expected to participate in the summit.