Edor urges self-evaluation, skill acquisition by Niger Delta youths for rehabilited refinery jobs

A renowned Niger Delta activist and social crusader, Oghenekaro Edor has called on the youths of Niger Delta region, to take advantages inherent in the newly rehabilited Port Harcourt refinery by acquiring requisite skills to be gainfully employed into the upgraded refinery.

He said the end to the era of menial jobs in the oil industry by youths is nigh if only they develop and grow their skills.

This was the subject of a one-day workshop held in Udu, Delta State, December 19, 2024, organised by Edor to educate, sensitise, and enlighten the youths on what he described as a new world order.

He stated that the world is edging towards a vocationally skill-driven society adding that the earlier the youths embraced vocational training, the better for the region.

He noted that, the Group Chief Executive Officer, CGEO of the Nigeria National Petroleum Company Limited, NNPCL, Engr Mele Kyari had commendably blaized all odds to bring back the Port Harcourt refinery on stream since it was shut down in 2019 gulping billion of naira.

Describing the refinery as a national monument, Edor said, Kyari achieved the success in restreaming the refinery to provide jobs for the youths of the region.

He added that the workshop under the theme: “Revitilisation of Nigeria Refineries, maximising effects on the region and achieving national synergy,” was a wake up call for the youths of the region who he noted are low in skill acquisition compared to other regions in the country.

To combat poverty, despondency occasioned by the unemployment of the productive population, Edor told his large audience of critical stakeholders, leaders and elders drawn from across the broad spectrum of the Niger Delta including ex-agitators, that the youths should consider the imeperatives of self-evaluation.

He said this is with the aim of redirecting their focus towards acquiring skills to populate workforce in the country’s oil industry but not without building synergy with youths from other regions.

To compete healthily in the develoment of the country, Edor called on the youths to shun violence agitations and rather dissipate their energies toward capacity building.

He said this is to enhance their chances of trudging into other spheres of life to earn their living, noting that, the NNPCL is in the process of completing the rehabilitation of the Warri refinery and petrochemical company, and the Kaduna refinery. When the refineries are fully operational.

Edor noted that only the skilled ones would be employed which underscores the need for the workshop as he urge the leaders and elders to mentor the youths aright.

“Our youths cannot permanently remain political thugs and errand boys to politicians, the time has come for a thorough re-assessment, re-evaluation, and re-enginering the economy of our region.

” Building economic hub in our region like we have in Asia, Europe and America is not impossible but we must all agree to change the tide from seeking white-collar job to evolving a self-reliant population,” he explained.

Achattered Economist, Ahamefule Agbawo, called on the youths to maximise the benefits of the newly upgraded capacity as he poured ecomium on the CGEO Kyari and the entire management of the NNPCL.

Present at the event were the Ijaw Youth Council, IYC, represented by its Spokesperson, Comrd Berefa Bedford, who dwell on harmonious relationship among all ethnic nationalities in the region;

The Executive Director, Value Rebirth and Empowerment Initiative (VREI), Edewor Egedegbe, pointedly advocated a strong synergy among sections of the regions is necessary for regional cohesion.