Bayelsa State was Created on 1st October 1996, I was less than 10 then but I experienced old Rivers State, I know the roles played by TK Ogoriba, Oronto Douglass, Alfred Diete Spiff, Melford Okilo former Members of old Rivers State in the foundational stage of the state, the Likes of Chief TKO Okorotie and others were Critical Stakeholders as the Pioneer SA Political to the First Executive Governor of Bayelsa State.

Bayelsa State is 24 years old and we still don’t have a pragmatic Plan for our Youths, individuals has also thwarted Government efforts geared towards Youth Development in the past, thence We shouldn’t blame the Government alone.

There Need to be a Blue Print on Youth Development in Bayelsa State, that will guard all Government activities for the year, and there will be possibilities of Partners and Sponsors and if this happens the Government will Spend less on Youth Development and achieve more.

There can be a program or project that Should be designed specifically for the Youth not impostors claiming Youths, and this program should be able to capture major areas of Youths interest. Like Sports, Agriculture, Entertainment, Military, Politics, Scholarship/Education, Sciences etc.

I propose that there should be a program called Bayelsa State Youth Engagement and Employment Program (BYEEP).
This I will expatiate on a latter paragraph, BYEEP will/should be flexible and open to partnership and sponsorships, with a responsible Government we can achieve this.
We can build the Bayelsa State Youth of our dream If we are ready “its not Rocket Science” we need Concerted efforts directed at Youth Development for the Good of all, even if you are not a Youth, your children are/were Youths hence we are all Critical Stakeholders in Youth Development.

The Bayelsa state Youth Engagement, Employment and Empowerment program is targeted at the development of the State Youth in all Sectors of societal advancement so as to build the capacities of Our Youths to be worthy ambassadors of the state and factors in the Development of our dear State and stand tall amongst their peers in other climes.

BYEEP should have the following Features.

1. Entertainment: Entertainment has placed so many cities on the world map making them an haven for tourists and foreign investors, the drive Bayelsa State Youths have in the Entertainment sector is second to non, I have watched so many talents die in Bayelsa State as a result of State Negligence.

2. Sports: Bayelsa State has produced world class footballers, wrestlers and swimmers like Samson Siasia, Daniel Igali etc but this is not reflected in our sporting sector, So many Youths that have passion for sports have resorted to sports gambling due to lack of proper orientation and direction of Passion, one of our youths has climbed a Telecommunication mast to its peak with a ball on his head, swam across a river with a ball on his head, rode a bicycle with a ball on his head for kilometers. We need to employ experts to explore the Sporting potentials of our youths .

3. Scholarships/Education: We have some categories of Youths in this state that are only interested in acquiring Knowledge they are not after pleasures but lectures that will build their intellectual Capacity they just want to have all the degrees and possibly become lecturers or writers, there are others who just need a Higher Institution Certificate to be satisfied with Government efforts and get themselves established.

4. Skill Acquisition/Entrepreneurship: Our youths need to be genuinely admitted and trained on Various Skills like Shoe making, Makeup and tailoring, Barbing and Laundry, Mechanic, Food production etc .

5. Agriculture: Though I studied Philosophy but I have a Certificate in Integrated Agriculture from a renowned institution, I have also executed a contract on that basics so I’m an authority in it. We have A 35,000 birds capacity Farm in Sagbama, An Aquaculture village in Yenegwe with over 500 ponds, the then Commissioner of Agriculture, Hon. Doodei Week said it can generate up to 3.5 billion Annually and employ up to 4 thousand Youths. and a cassava processing factory which according to the former Governor is the most equipped and biggest in Africa, all fully equipped with modern facilities but no proper management, we need serious minded persons to be given the mantle of leadership in these farms so that our youths can be engaged. These farms can feed 20% of Bayelsa State, and engage up to 20,000 Youths that can live a responsible life with it. Our Bayelsa Palm can sustain the Economy of an LGA in Bayelsa State if pragmatically utilized, we also need a cassava village in a very large hectare of land. The by-product of cassava is much, they don’t only have nutritional value but pharmaceuticals its one of the most sort after plant in the world currently, not forgetting other areas of agriculture.
6. Politics: Our youths are very much interested in Politics and this is obvious with the passions and energy they exert on Youth activism and Student Unionism, Recognized and Reputable Students and Youth Organizations should be supported and carried along in all Government activities and expose them to leadership activities, key them into the policy and programs of the administration, every recognized Youth body should be supported to organize an annual program .

7. Military: Some of Our youths are interested in serving in the Nigeria Military and Other National Security outfits.
We need to give our best hands in all sectors. A team of retired Military officers should be mandated with a board known as Bayelsa State Military Recruitment Board (BMRB) they should over see the preliminary recruitment process of our Youths, their welfare on camps and post service welfare for personnel.

8: Bayelsa State Youth Employment Board: This board should create, attract and identify opportunities for youth employment, engagement and empowerment.

9. Bayelsa State Youth House (BSYH): The Bayelsa State Youth house will have Secretariats for all Recognized and Reputable Youth Bodies in the state NYCN, IYC, NYP, NUBSS, NUIS, NIDSUG, NANS this will give the Youth Bodies and members a senses of responsibility as critical stakeholders of the State, this will also enable them to carry out the administrative activities of their union effectively.

The Bayelsa State Youth Engagement employment and empowerment project is in view and we will discuss on each of the 10 features on a later date.

I know His Excellency, Sen. Douye Diri is a Youth Oriented Governor hence, I urge him to engineer the building process of the Bayelsa State Youth of our dream.

Comr. Atti J Moses (Youth Development Advocate/DDG Diri Lawrence Youth Project)

http://may94.com/2020/05/06/the-need-for-bayelsa-youth-engagement-employment-and-empowerment-program-byeep-comr-atti-j-moses/

Great points postulated by Comrade Atti J. This Douye's administration must carry out a comprehensive youth empowerment program.

We hope and pray the Covid 19 pandemic comes to an end for things to start taking shape.

I dey laugh

a state that has militants? oh boy I dey laff