It was a day for stocktaking and decision making last Saturday in Eket Town when officers and members of Union of Niger Delta Youth Council (UNDYC) gathered at QIC Primary School, to re-affairm their resolve to establish positive footprints on the sands of time in Nigeria.
The event which featured the swearing-in and formal inauguration of local government chapters and ward executives in Eket Senatorial District similarly attracted landmark declarations by top notch of the UNDYC.
Addressing the mammoth crowd of youths drawn from all the local government areas in Eket, and national officers of the council including the National Chairman, Barr. Godspower Nta and his executives, the state chairman of UNDYC, Comrade Henry Ufokiko declared; “Since the formation of Union of Niger Delta Youth Council in 1998, UNDYC has been in the forefront of advocating for the Niger Delta people and seeking for a peaceful coexistence in the component part of Nigerian Nation”.
According to Comrade Ufokiko, it was actually during one of the UNDYC National Peace Conferences held in Abuja in 2007 that the Council’s resolutions were adopted by the late President Umar Musa Yar’Adua’s administration were implemented to form what is now known as the Amnesty programme for the ex-militants in the Niger Delta region.
Comrade Ufokiko also recalled with enthusiasm the remarkable achievements of UNDYC in Akwa Ibom State noting with delight that the group registered the highest number of members as a foremost grassroots’ positive movement in the state, adding that the body has also opened ways to partner with corporations, multinationals as well as the government to empower its members, pointing out that this unique effort paid off in skill acquisition programmes for members in the areas of catering, interior/outdoor decoration, bead and hat making, fashion/designing and paint production.
Other vocations acquired by the members , Comrade Ufokiko disclosed, included production of liquid soap, Izal, insecticides, and other home items, fashion and designing, fabrication and welding, plumbing, photography and video coverage, computer appreciation, driving, health safety, and environmental management among other lucrative trades.
Comrade Ufokiko expressed joy that over 300 members of the UNDYC have so far graduated from the skill acquisition programme, which over 3,000 are now undergoing training on most of the aforementioned vocation, drawn from Oron, Udung-Uko, Mbo, Okobo and Urue Offong /Oruko even as the same facilities for members of Uyo and Ikot Ekpene Senatorial Districts later in the year.
In his speech, the National Chairman of UNDYC, Barr. Godspower Nta implored youths to abhor all vices including violence, election malpractice, and insubordination, as well as being ready tools in the hands of politicians who could use them for negative activities.
Barr. Nta enjoined members of the UNDYC to pursue and claim the natural right in dignified manner and mature approach, and exhorted those in authority to comp the Niger Deltans for the usage of their natural endowments.
Others who spoke at the epochal event were a National Officer of the President Jonathan House-to House Group, Comrade Benjamin Umoh, the Eket Senatorial District Chairman of UNDYC, Comrade Patrick Okon Umoh, the District Women leader Madam Margaret Assam among others.
Prominent executive members of UNDYC in Eket Senatorial District who commended the unquantifiable progress so far made by the Comrade Henry Ufokiko led executive of the UNDYC in Akwa Ibom State were the Chairman of the Cental Planning Committee of the Inauguration, Comrade Rt. Hon. Okon Bassey Iyanam, Udung Uko Chairman, Comrade Victor Obiosio, Urue Offong/Oruko leader, Comrade Pastor Ita Enyongekere, and Prince Sunny Ntuen Ibok, Cordinator of the Patriotism International Director of the skill acquisition projects in the state.
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