Ex- militant leader appointed head of Bayelsa youth Development centre

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Ex- militant leader,Mr. Ebikabowei Victor Ben, also known as Boyloaf has been appointed chairman of Bayelsa state Youth Development Centre by the state government. Inaugurating the 17 Member Directors and members of the Bayelsa State Centre for Youth Development yesterday, Governor Seriake Dickson charged them to provide training for youths that would enable them live meaningful lives and contribute their quota to the development of the State.

According to Governor Dickson, the major task of the centre lies in its ability to engage consultants with a view to re-orientating the youths and getting them to participate effectively in the local economy.

The Governor posited that giving handouts to the youths was not a sustainable way of securing their future and stressed the need to make the youths champions of their lives.

"My message to you is that we want all our young people to have an independent way of living their lives. If they get involved in political thuggery, they can only be given peanuts for only that time.Now that you have a leadership in this State that is not prepared to play politics with the development of our youths, I enjoin you all for the sake of our people; for the future of this State, our charge to you and your able team is to protect the future of this State by working with us and by giving the youths some level of skills.This Government is willing to address this problem from its foundation. I know that it is not easy. I know that people do not have a sharp sense of citizenship.He also urged them to work as a team and develop a curriculum for its training programmes towards empowering the youths, rather than making them become willing tools in the hands of political jobbers".

Governor Dickson, who noted that at the end of the training programme, the youths would be able to key into the various empowerment programmes, enjoined the members to work closely with the Commissioners for Youth Development and Culture and Ijaw National Affairs as well as the President of Ijaw Youth Council in the discharge of their assignment.

Responding, Chairman of the Centre for Youth Development, Mr. Ebikabowei Victor Ben expressed appreciation to Governor Dickson for the opportunity given them to serve in his administration and promised to take the youths along to enable them benefit from Government's programmes.

The Secretary of the Board is Mr. Egba Claudius Diekemi, while other Directors are, Kakas Amgbare (Sabgama LGA), Inemo Angalapele (Kolokumo/Opokuma LGA), Joseph Dienduomo (Ekeremor LGA), Pastor Reuben Wilson (Southern Ijaw LGA), Dini Atoni (Ogbia LGA), Mangite Asari (Nembe) and Miss Emmanuela Victor Brass LGA).The members are, Rosebella Jackson, Toikuma Toboulayefa ThankGod, Omangima Harry, Alfreda Olungwe, Gift Bokiri, Tina Bailbond and Ebiasuode Timipre.