‘Why Militancy Thrives In N’ Delta’

Former Secretary to State Government, Hon.Magnus Abe (right),Chairman Gokana LGA, Chief Victor Giadom (left) and Mrs Bakbe Gbarazie mother of slain Pius Gbarazia,during a condolence visit to the family, at Kemzoo community Bori in Khana LGA

Wife of Rivers State Governor, Dame Judith Amaechi has attributed militancy and youth restiveness in the Niger Delta Region to lack of proper foundation and early childhood education.

Mrs Amaechi stated this on Monday during the ESI and Shell Clusters Development Partnership interactive session in Port Harcourt.

She said if the amnesty package must be successful, its implementation must be able to include and embrace the early childhood education in its programme.

The governor’s wife, who described children in the region as “survival in wilderness” stated that lack of basic amenities including rights to basic education instigated  youths to carrying arms and ammunition.

According to her “when the child grows up without direction and a path to follow, he has no choice than to find answers to its situations”.

The Rivers First Lady added that corporate organisation and communities who neglect the basics in child development do so at their peril.

“The cause of militancy is the lack of proper early childhood education, a child has no access to basic things of life”.

“A Holistic approach needs to be put in place to promote early child education if the nation’s education sector must be salvaged”, she noted.

She said the challenge before ESI was to build permanent structure in the 319 wards of Rivers State adding that the structure would provide platform for adult literacy programme for parents.

The governor’s wife said it was necessary for corporate organizations to partner with Non-Governmental Organisations like the ESI to develop human capacity for the nation.

Earlier, the Manager, Government Community Relations, East SPDC, Mr Fufeyin Funkakpo said the organization was willing to partner with ESI through its cluster system in the state.

Funkakpo said the cluster group will cross-fertilize ideas with a view to finding areas of mutual interest that will promote the rights of the child to access basic education.

Also the Coordinator of ESI, Nowa Omorogbe commended the overwhelming support of the host communities, adding that the NGO has introduced “feed a child” project aimed at providing adequate and balanced meal necessary for the growth and learning capacity of the child.

The event was attended by management of 10 Clusters including Andoni, Etche 1 and 2, Greater Port Harcourt, Akuku Town, Ikwerre LGA, Shell Residential and Indutrial Areas, Daa 1 and 2,

Former Secretary to State Government, Hon.Magnus Abe (right),Chairman Gokana LGA, Chief Victor Giadom (left) and Mrs Bakbe Gbarazie mother of slain Pius Gbarazia,during a condolence visit to the family, at Kemzoo community Bori in Khana LGA