IYC Urges Companies To Employ Youths Of Host Communities

A group under the aegis of Ijaw Youth Council (IYC), Wakirike Se clan in Rivers State has called on companies operating within the area to create employment opportunities for the youths as well as carry out their social responsibilities to the host communities.

The newly elected chairman of the council, Comrade John Paul-Worika made the call while fielding  questions from journalists after his election recently.

Comrade Paul-Worika said with such opportunities, the teeming unemployed youths would be meaningfully engaged, thereby curbing crime rate and other anti-social activities in the area.

He said companies should engage the youths in all fields, stressing that the clan has qualified manpower to man such positions.

The chairman, who frowned over the indiscrimate employment of manpower by companies in the area said most indigenes of the clan were denied opportunities on the  pretence that there is no vacancy, while   such jobs were given to non-indigenes  of the state for whatever reasons best known to them,  and called for a halt.

According to him, to correct that discrepancy, companies could employ, train and empower the people of its host companies to create an enabling environment for their business and operations to thrive.

As a peaceful and law abiding youth organisation, our demand has been the provision of employment opportunities both skilled and unskilled for the youths of their host communities, because  we observed that such opportunities were never given to our people, thereby creating an unfavourable atmosphere, which is unacceptable from now”, he said.

The IYC chairman, also lamented that the activities of the companies in the area have also polluted  the waters, thereby making life difficult for the fisherfolk to fend for their living.

Comrade Paul-Worika used the forum to call on the companies in the clan to carry the traditional rulers and chiefs  of the area along in the scheme of things as they are custodians of peace in their domain, and thanked members of the body for the  opportunity given to him to serve.