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Okowa Applauds President Tinubu’s Economic Reforms
The immediate past governor of Delta State, Doctor Ifeanyi Okowa says the economic reforms of the administration of President Bola Tinubu are the pathways to achieving a better and more progressive country.
Doctor Okowa stated this at a youth forum in Asaba after being honoured with an award of the Living Legend by the Delta Chapter of the National Youth Council of Nigeria.
He described as unacceptable and retrogressive the policy of subsidizing fuel with borrowed fund by previous administrations.
While commending the bold step taken by the administration of President Tinubu to change the narrative for the survival and economic transformation of the country, the former Delta State Governor noted with delight that the benefits of subsidy removal have started to reflect on the huge allocations to federal, state and local governments.
”Salaries are being paid constantly now . Allocations to the states and local government councils have increased remarkably. During my tenure as governor, we had to support local government councils to pay salaries. But today, local government councils are in better positions to pay salaries and execute projects. But that does not mean that everything is okay yet. There is still a lot of work to be done”, Okowa posited
Dr Okowa urged the local government councils to make judicious use of the huge statutory allocations to them by building public infrastructure, empowering farmers and traders with grants and tools,
He advised youths to engage in productive ventures to secure their future, instead of allowing themselves to be used as political thugs.
Okowa stated further, ”Building the youths is not just the job of the government of the federation or that of the state or the government at the local government level. The youths themselves have to be prepared to be built . They have to be prepared to use the energy in them, and their God given talents to work along with government in order to bring a total turnaround of our nation.”
Delta State Governor, Sheriff Oborevwori represented by the State Commissioner for Environment, Ejiro Jamani gave assurances that his administration would continue to accord priority to the development of the youths through skill acquisition, capacity building, and empowerment to make them productive and self reliant.
Speaking to newsmen, the Executive Chairman of Oshimili North local government area of Delta State, Chief Innocent Esewezie described the award of the Living Legend conferred on Dr Ifeanyi Okowa as well deserved.
”This is the very first time that we are seeing a former governor of Delta State that has been so honoured by the youths of Delta State. When you serve well, you will be well recognized”, Esewezie remarked.
The convener and Delta State Chairman of the National Youth Council of Nigeria, Comrade Kenneth Okorie said the event was organized as part of activities marking a 2- week long events of the International Youth Day.
The event featured paper presentations on the theme: Empowering The Youths: Building The Future by various speakers including the keynote speaker and Deputy Vice Chancellor Academics, Delta State University, Abraka, Professor Hillary Ijeoma Owama.