AHEAD of the 2019 general elections, the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) has advised the youths not to allow themselves to be used as an instrument of violence.Mrs Ufonime Bassey, Principle Manager, Directorate of Youths, Sports, Culture and Women Affairs of NDDC, gave the advice on Tuesday in Warri, Delta State.
Bassey, who led some staff of the commission to a “Peace Building and Sensitisation Workshop” organised by Shola Mese Foundation, said NDDC decided to partner the NGO because of its theme.
The manager, who spoke to journalists on a sideline at the event, advised the youth to embrace peace and shun violence particularly now that the general election was around the corner.
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“We do not want our youths to engage in violence especially now that elections are around the corner, that is why we felt we should speak and advised them to embrace peace.
“The youths should not allow themselves to be used by anybody for any reason anywhere.
“For some time now, we have been preaching to them to shun violence, thuggery and embrace peace so that they can live a better life,” she said.
Earlier, in his address of welcome, the convener and Founder, “Shola Mese Foundation” Mr Shola Mese said the program was targeted at youth between the age bracket of 10 and 30 years.
According to him, the youth were the ones at the forefronts of any restiveness hence the need to preach to them to shun violence and embrace peace at all times.
“The purpose of this program is to enlighten the youth to avoid violent activities and embrace peace in its entirety.
” We have successfully engaged over 600 students/trainees on various vocations in our vocational skill centre to take them out of restiveness and reduce crime in the society,” he said.
Various resource persons including Mrs Eugene Marcus, Founder, Fresh View Empowerment Initiative spoke at the event.
According to Marcus, in spite of our differences, we could still live together peacefully irrespective of our social, political and religious beliefs if we set aside pride.
She assured the youth that they could still be successful in life without indulging in criminal activities.
Miss Vivian Ozemiron, a physically challenged commended the organisers noting that the program had renewed her hope to become successful in life despite her disposition.
“I have learnt that my limitation cannot limit me to becoming who God wants to become in life. I can be a millionaire even while I am sitting in a Wheelchair,” she said.
NDDC was established in 2000 with the mission of facilitating the rapid, even and sustainable development of the Niger Delta into a region that is economically prosperous, socially stable and politically peaceful.
