Akwa-Ibom: Youth Leaders Rally Support For NDDC Sole Administrator

The Senior Adviser to the NDDC Sole Administrator on Youth matters, Engr Udengs Eradiri, on Saturday met with leaders of various youth groups and organizations in Uyo, the Akwa Ibom State capital, as part of his planned courtesy visits to the nine(9) Niger-Delta states aimed at listening to the concerns affecting the youths within the region.

The youth leaders who represented the various ethnic groups in the state unwaveringly gave their support to the Sole Administrator of the NDDC, Barr Effiong Akwa, who is an indigene of the state and in December 2020, was appointed by President Buhari to oversee the affairs of the NDDC, pending the completion of the forensic audit.

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Engr. Eradiri while thanking the youths for the support given to their brother, promised even distribution of allocations for training and other youth development programs which his boss has approved for the people of the region. He stated that he was overwhelmed by how the youths in Akwa-Ibom state have conducted themselves and ensured continued peace reigns in this part of the region, “I am yet to begin an official tour to the Niger Delta states but I have honoured the media invitations which is a good opportunity to inform our brothers from this part that whatever allocation that is due to them, will surely get to them through their respective leadership”.

While responding to a question about the commitment of the Ministry of Niger-Delta Affairs as well as the Niger Delta Development Commission, Engr. Eradiri said, “I assure you that the government and the commission are seriously keen and committed to equipping and development of our youths and in not too long from today, my office will be rolling out series of bespoke training in ICT, tailoring, culinary and different crafts which would actively include people living with disabilities”.

The SA who later visited AZIMARINE Training school in Ibeno area of Akwa-Ibom State expressed his eagerness and excitement to engage the facility immediately for training of youths in the region.

He enthused: “If I didn’t come personally to see this, I would have doubted there was a massive facility like this which is capable of training over 1000 youths in less than two months on the basics of welding, fabrication, corrosion control, scaffolding projects, underwater inspection diving and rigging. I will be visiting more facilities in the region and in no time our young people will be engaged in training in diverse areas”.

It would be recalled that the appointment of Eradiri, who served as the president of the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) Worldwide between 2015 to 2018, was also a former Commissioner for Youths and later Environment in Bayelsa State during the administration of Seriake Dickson – attracted commendations and was described as a masterstroke by traditional rulers and religious organisations in the region.