Governor of Delta State, Senator Dr Ifeanyi Arthur Okowa, has redefined responsible leadership and provision of genuine dividends of democracy through his unmistakable passion for youth development.
And as his tenure gradually winds up in 2023, Deltans and indeed Nigerians will for decades make reference to his administration as one that truly touched lives, groomed young Entrepreneurs and potential leaders that will make waves in the political lanscape.
Governor Okowa’s administration came to be through deliberate planning and the team started working way back in 2013, when His Excellency, the Governor, was the distinguished senator representing the good people of Delta North Senatorial District between 2011 and 2015.
At a recent state function he commended the Deputy Governor of Central Bank, Dr Kingsley Obiora, Prof Eric Eboh, Dr Kingsley Emu and Rt Hon Festus Ovie Agas, for their intellectual contributions towards the planning and huge success of the state job and wealth creation programmes namely;
*Skills Training and Entrepreneurship Programme, STEP, designed for unemployed graduates/school leavers between aged 18 and 35;
*Youth Agricultural Entrepreneurs Programme, YAGEP, deliberately crafted for unemployed graduates/school leavers between ages 18 and 35;
*Rural Youth Skills Training Programme, RYSA, for youths resident in the rural communities with basic knowledge in chosen trade and enterprise;
*Girls Entrepreneurship and Skills Training Programme, GEST for young adults and ladies between ages 18 and 30; and
*Women Entrepreneurship and Skills Acquisition Programme, WESAP), among other empowerment programmes.
The youth and girl child programmes were introduced to create employment for them because of the obvious congestion in the labour market; and to serve as a paradigm shift from government salaried jobs to Entrepreneurship and self employment through the training and reorientation modules of these programmes.
Speaking recently at the inauguration of the executives of Coalition for Media Politics and Governance, CMPG, in Asaba, the Chief Economic Adviser to the Governor of Delta State, Dr Kingsley Emu, said both the SMART and Stronger Delta agendas of this administration focuses on the youth, women and girls; a deliberate effort by governor Okowa, to groom young entrepreneurs and future business leaders in the state and by extension, Nigeria.
Emu disclosed that the relative peace and consistent increase in economic growth of the State since May 2015, attests to the successful implementation of YAGEP, STEP, RYSA, GEST and WESAP programmes.
He said the construction and rehabilitation of over 2,500 kilometers of roads across the three senatorial districts is to enable smooth and easy transportation of goods and services from one point to another, especially agricultural products produced by YAGEP beneficiary farmers, other products and raw materials from multifaceted activities of entrepreneurs and local industrialists.
“The governor ensured prudent management of financial resources, encouraged innovations and ideas from the outset, and personally monitored the various job and wealth creation programmes to fruition.
“As a government, our goal is to raise young billionaires from the various programmes by creating the enabling environments and assist them with funding where necessary for them to excel in their various business and entrepreneurial endeavours.
“Governor Okowa is passionate about the great future of Delta Youths, and I am particularly proud of his exceptional visionary leadership,” Emu said.
At the last count, 6,014 youths benefited from these laudable job and wealth creation programmes. Some of the beneficiaries are today employers of labour and also training other youths thereby consistently increasing the number of beneficiaries directly and indirectly across the three senatorial districts.
The visionary leadership of governor Okowa, has indeed redefined responsible leadership, a solid foundation that his successor must of a necessity sustain and improve upon for the rapid socioeconomic development of the state, and accelerate prosperity for all Deltans.
Stronger Delta, Let’s Build Together!
***
Fred Latimore Oghensivbe Esq, is the Executive Assistant to Delta State Governor on Communications and Chairman, Coalition for Media Politics and Governance, CMPG.