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From Enweliku Kent, Asaba
The Commissioner for Youth Development and Special Projects, Delta State, Barr. Brave Enodeh, has reaffirmed the commitment of the Governor Sheriff Oborevwori-led administration to empowering young people and improving their wellbeing.
Enodeh gave the assurance during an interview marking the 2026 International Youth Day, with the theme, “Different Contexts, Common Aspirations.”
The Commissioner said although young people pursue different careers and have diverse aspirations, they share a common desire for a better and more prosperous future.
According to him, the aspirations of youths seeking careers as doctors, lawyers, accountants, mechanics, fishermen and professionals in other fields may differ, but government has a responsibility to create an enabling environment for them to achieve their goals.
The Commissioner noted that the three tiers of government — federal, state and local — have important roles to play in youth development, stressing that the Delta State Government had placed youth empowerment at the centre of its development agenda.
He said Governor Oborevwori had directed the Ministry of Youth Development to focus on empowering young people through entrepreneurship, skills acquisition and other productive engagements.
“The governor told me that what we want to do for the youths is empowerment. We are thinking of entrepreneurship, personal skill acquisition and skill empowerment. We want to engage the youths in all ramifications,” Enodeh said.
He explained that meaningful youth engagement was critical to preventing crime and other social vices, warning that an idle and neglected young population could become vulnerable to criminal activities.
Enodeh disclosed that the state government had already invested substantially in facilities for skills acquisition, adding that modalities for accessing the facilities and programmes would soon be rolled out, particularly for young people.
The Commissioner also called for greater visibility for the Ministry of Youth Development, saying young people should be able to identify with the ministry as an institution established to protect their interests and promote their development.
He said the ministry was adopting a new approach under which youth-related programmes would be coordinated through the Ministry of Youth Development to ensure that opportunities meant for young people reached the intended beneficiaries.
“The definition of youth is a unisex activity. When you say bring your youths, it means boys and girls. We have abolished the old concept where people thought youths meant only young men,” he said.
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Enodeh urged young people to take advantage of government programmes in skills acquisition, entrepreneurship and financial assistance rather than allowing unemployment and social pressures to discourage them.
On the growing migration trend popularly known as “Japa”, the Commissioner appealed to youths to reconsider the belief that better opportunities and a good life could only be found outside Nigeria.
He maintained that Nigeria, particularly Delta State, had opportunities that could be developed through skills, enterprise and productive work.
He also encouraged young people to develop positive attitudes towards work and entrepreneurship, regardless of the nature of legitimate jobs available to them.
Enodeh disclosed that the Delta State Government had provided support for some returnees from South Africa, including financial assistance to help them reintegrate and establish sustainable livelihoods.
According to him, “the initiative demonstrated the government’s willingness to support young people facing economic difficulties and help them become productive members of society.”
The Commissioner further encouraged youths who feel shy, intimidated or afraid to approach government to overcome such barriers and make their needs known.
“Don’t be intimidated. Don’t go and hide. Don’t be shy. Come out and show yourself to the state that you are a youth and that you are valuable,”.
He said the Ministry of Youth Development would operate an open-door policy, stressing that government would not only wait for young people to approach it but would also actively reach out to youths in their various communities.
“If you are not coming to us, we are coming for you,” Enodeh said, stressing that the objective was to ensure that no young person was left behind.
He urged Delta youths to remain hopeful, acquire relevant skills, pursue legitimate opportunities and take advantage of programmes provided by the state government.
“Government recognises the importance of young people and is committed to creating opportunities that will enable them to contribute meaningfully to the development of Delta State and Nigeria,”.
The Commissioner added: “Delta youths, my message is that you should come to us. The governor has said it: his mission is to empower the youths. Whether you are a boy or a girl, come to the ministry and show yourself to the state. You are valuable, and the government loves you.”
