Supporting Youth Employment

All are agreed that one way of curbing youth restiveness is by the creation of job opportunities for them in order that their idle minds would not be turned to the devils workshop, as the saying goes.

Thus, the reduction of the number of unemployed youth is the driving force behind most government programmes like the imparting of entrepreneurial skills which the federal government ordered all tertiary institutions in the country to include in their curricula as a method of reducing the number of job seekers after graduation.

In fact, the jobs are not even there as infrastructural deficiency, among others, had been blamed for the relocation of industries to other West African countries where regular electricity could be guaranteed.

On the other hand, the commercial banks had been blamed for making access to credit very difficult to small and medium sized entrepreneurs, a factor which contributes to the killing of initiative by some young graduates.

As such any effort in the agricultural sector which has great multiplier effect through its numerous value chain and one which has been described as being capable of mopping up a majority of the unemployed youth, while at the same time, guaranteeing food security for the masses, should be encouraged.

Thus, the commitment of the Rivers State governor, Rt. Hon Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi to alleviating the suffering of the youth through establishment of agricultural enterprises aimed at giving direct employment and modern training in agricultural practices, should not be taken for granted, but rather given unflinching support.

It is in this wise that reports of vandalisation of a banana plantation by suspected youth in Sogho, Nyo-Khana Local Government Area of the State should be viewed. The State Commissioner for Agriculture, Mr. Emmanuel Chindah who confirmed this recently said the plantation was attacked by hoodlums last month while a massive investigation has been launched into the sordid development.

When the National Good Governance Team visited the plantation in the company of the State governor, the latter told his guests that the government agricultural programmes in Ogoniland were aimed at massive employment of the youth as a way of checking restiveness and militancy in the area. For instance, the banana plantation alone which is run by San Carlos Limited with an equity share of 60 per cent, while the State government retains the rest, could engage 4,000 youth directly, while many others could be engaged through the off-farm activities of the plantation.

The same goes for the Songhai farm for which the governor noted, “we did not establish it to make money, our interest is to train our people in commercial and mechanized farming… the people of this area are our target,” he said, but condemned the vandalisation of more than 10,000 banana plants. The Ogoni area is noted for its vast arable land which the government is attempting to tap into for the benefit of all.

But it is clear that if present tendencies continue the objectives for which government is making financial outlays in agriculture could be hampered in the absence of sustainable peace in the land. In fact to underline his resolve at employment generation for youth, Governor Amaechi while at Oyigbo for a town hall meeting challenged the local government chairman to provide 10,000 hectares of land for an agricultural project that would massively employ youth of the  area gainfully.

There are also plan to revive the Delta Rubber Company in Okamoko Etche with the same intention of employment generation that would add value to the lives of the citizens. This is why the act of willful destruction, not only of government property, is condemnable in its entirety because it tends to impede the tempo of development and dim the vision of government toward the empowerment of the youth.

Though there may be difference between the proprietors of the vandalized farm and the community or between the latter and the government, wantonly destroying your own cannot get support from any quarters as there are other avenues for seeking redress.

There is a consensus that the people of Ogoni have suffered a lot of deprivation in the hands of oil exploiting and exploration firms which activities have spoiled their environment, making life difficult for the locals there. However, as we continue to impress on the Federal government and Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC), on the need to remediate the devastated Ogoniland and elsewhere even as agreed by the United Nations Environmental Project (UNEP), we call for patience from the good people of the area and implore them not to misdirect their anger on Rivers State government.