Oghenekaro Edor, a Niger Delta activist, has urged youths in the region to acquire skills to secure employment opportunities at the newly rehabilitated Port Harcourt refinery. Edor emphasised that the era of menial jobs in the oil industry is coming to an end, and only those with relevant skills will benefit from the upgraded refinery.
To achieve this, Edor organised a one-day workshop in Udu, Delta State, to educate and sensitise youths about the changing job market. He stressed that the world is shifting towards a vocationally skill-driven society, and Niger Delta youths must adapt to remain relevant.
He noted that Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigeria National Petroleum Company Limited, (NNPCL) Mele Kyari has weathered all storms to bring back the Port Harcourt refinery on stream since it was shut down in 2019, gulping billion of naira.
Describing the refinery as a national monument, Edor said Kyari achieved success in restreaming the refinery to provide jobs for the youths, adding that the workshop under the theme: Revitilisation of Nigeria refineries, maximising effects on the region and achieving national synergy; was a wake up call for the youths of the region who he noted are low in skill acquisition compared to other regions of the country.
To combat poverty, despondency occasioned by the unemployment of the productive population, Edor told his audience that the youths should consider the imeperatives of self-evaluation with the aim of redirecting their focus towards acquiring skills to populate workforce in the country’s oil industry but not without building synergy with youths from other regions.
To compete healthily in the develoment of the country, Edor called on the youths to shun violent agitations and rather dissipate their energies toward capacity building so as to enhance their chances of trudging into other spheres of life to earn their living. He said NNPCL is in the process of completing the rehabilitation of the Warri refinery and petrochemical company, and the Kaduna refinery. “When the refineries are fully operational, only the skilled would be employed hence the need for the workshop, as he urge leaders and elders to mentor the youths aright.
“The era of chasing petty money is over and it is time for a more focused youths population on whose shoulders the responsibilities of turning around the economic fortunes of the region lies. It is time to meaningfully and gainfully take over the oil industry with our skills and manpower. Our youths can not permanently remain political thugs and errand boys to politicians, the time has come for a thorough re-assessment, re-evaluation, and re-enginering the economy of our region. Building economic hub in our region like we have in Asia, Europe and America is not impossible but we must all agree to change the tide from seeking white-collar jobs to evolving a self-reliant population,” he said.
Ahamefule Agbawo, a chattered economist called on the youths to maximise the benefits of the newly upgraded capacity as he poured ecomium on Kyari and the NNPCL management.
Present at the event were the Ijaw Youth Council, (IYC), represented by its spokesperson, Comrade Berefa Bedford, who spoke on harmonious relationship among all ethnic nationalities in the region; Amb. (Pastor) Edewor Egedegbe who is the Executive Director, Value Rebirth and Empowerment Initiative, VREI, who pointedly advocated a strong synergy among sections of the regions is necessary for regional cohesion.