The National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN), on Saturday, endorsed the governorship aspiration of the African Action Congress (AAC) candidate in Delta State, Engr. Isaac O. Eshor, ahead of the 2027 election.

The council also said that Eshor’s more than 15 years of experience as a maritime engineer, marine operations consultant, shipping and logistics executive, entrepreneur and philanthropist positioned him to bring practical economic experience into governance.

NYCN President, Comrade Babangida Onimisi Isah, disclosed this in Abuja, during a press briefing while speaking at an event in support of Eshor’s candidacy, describing him as a candidate whose professional experience, business background and youth empowerment initiatives aligned with the aspirations of young people in the state.

Isah said the endorsement was based on Eshor’s record of competence, experience and commitment to skills development, employment creation and entrepreneurship rather than political rhetoric.

Isah said: “We need a Governor who understands how systems work, how businesses are built, how investments are attracted, how enterprises are managed, how people are employed and how economic opportunities can be created. Delta youths do not need promises alone. They need proof of intention.”

The NYCN president also highlighted Eshor’s activities through The Focus Foundation, including skills-acquisition programmes, job-creation initiatives, educational support, welfare interventions for the elderly and medical assistance.

He said the initiatives demonstrated that youth empowerment was not merely a campaign slogan for the candidate.

He urged young people in the state to assess candidates based on competence, character, experience and capacity, rather than ethnic, political or sectional considerations.

Isah also commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s youth-focused economic and skills-development initiatives, saying similar policies should be replicated at the state level.

He described Eshor as “a Delta son with global exposure,” noting that the candidate’s professional experience in maritime and oil and gas sectors could be deployed to develop the state’s economy.

He consequently declared: “The National Youth Council of Nigeria supports the emergence of Engr. Isaac O. Eshor as the next Governor of Delta State in 2027.”

Responding, Eshor, who identified himself as the AAC governorship candidate, called on youths across Delta State to actively participate in the 2027 political process.

He said his administration, if elected, would prioritise maritime development, technical training, employment, education, electricity generation and social welfare.

He said: “We are all youths, and by the grace of God, I want to encourage every young person to go back to their locality and see how we can take over this state.”

Eshor said he had employed about 200 sailors, engineers and captains across Nigeria and other parts of the world through his businesses, adding that his experience in the maritime industry informed his plan to establish a technical maritime training centre in Delta State.

He said the proposed centre would provide practical training to young people, irrespective of their educational backgrounds.

According to him, his administration would seek to transform Delta into a “marine hub” capable of attracting international investment, training and business activities.

Eshor also criticised the administration of Governor Sheriff Oborevwori over what he described as inadequate utilisation of the state’s resources.

He added, “I want to encourage every one of us not to look down on the maritime sector. Try as much as possible to look into it. Send your children to maritime schools.

“By the grace of God, when we take over, we are going to introduce a technical maritime training centre in Delta State. Whether you have gone to school or not, you can come and learn practical skills. I started learning practical skills at the age of 13.”

He claimed that Delta had received about ₦4.199 trillion in federal allocations over the period under review, but argued that the level of development and economic opportunities available to residents did not reflect the resources accruing to the state.

Eshor specifically questioned expenditure on five flyovers, which he said amounted to about ₦177 billion, arguing that greater emphasis should be placed on job creation and economic development.

He challenged Governor Oborevwori to a public debate on the blue economy, claiming that he had introduced the concept in Delta State before the current administration adopted it.

On his proposed economic agenda, Eshor said he would pursue local power generation by harnessing the state’s gas resources, while training young people to develop and maintain power infrastructure.

He also promised improved remuneration for teachers, including a proposed monthly ₦100,000 allowance, free primary and secondary education, and monthly stipends and free healthcare for citizens aged 65 and above.

The AAC candidate said he would work with the Delta State House of Assembly to give legislative backing to his proposed programmes, arguing that institutionalising the policies would prevent future administrations from abandoning them.