By Perekeme Odon
Lagos: It was an exhilarating whirlwind of
excitement at a one-of-a-kind event as the Assistant Secretary General, Ijaw
Youth Council Worldwide, Amb Egelu Edise-Emi Bright, empowered Ijaw youths in
the Lagos State chapter of the council with point-of-sale (POS) machines and
starter cash.
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Amb Egelu Edise-Emi Bright
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The event held at Benny Hotel in
Festac, Lagos State on Saturday, 31 August 2024, captivated attention by
featuring a symposium, music, and various cultural displays marking the first
anniversary of the Amb Egelu, as the Assistant Secretary General of the IYC and
focused on the initiative to restates the council's unwavering determination to
alleviate the lingering unemployment crisis through wealth creation and
sustainable economic growth strategies.
In his address, the host Amb Egelu
Edise-Emi Bright unequivocally stated that the IYC is a pressure group for
resource control, stressing the paramount need to give back to the people. He
affirmed that this gesture underscores the IYC's commitment, under the
leadership of Sir Jonathan Lokpobiri Snr, to alleviating the sufferings of the
less privileged in the Ijaw Nation.
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Sir Jonathan Lokpobiri Snr, IYC President
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Amb Egelu
clarified that the empowerment initiative specifically targets those who yearn
to earn a daily income through legitimate means and create investment
opportunities that will bring them tranquillity and peace of mind.
“The IYC is an Ijaw
revolutionary body, not just for resource control but to make sure the Ijaw
ethnic region is being placed as a priority. This event marks my one-year in
office with my president. This is a program that will benefit youths like me
across all the IYC zones. I want you to know that this is just phase one, as
more of these will unfold."
President of the Ijaw Youth Council
Worldwide, Sir Jonathan Lokpobiri Snr, expressed his gratitude for the
overwhelming support shown to the host, Amb Egelu Edise-Emi Bright. He
emphasized that this strong solidarity serves as a powerful motivation for Amb
Egelu to continue contributing significantly to the growth and development of
the Ijaw people in Lagos State.
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Amb Egelu Bright With The Beneficiaries
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President Lokpobiri articulated his
deep sense of privilege in leading an assembly comprised of adept individuals.
He underscored the council's non-monetary orientation, emphasizing its reliance
on goodwill to facilitate conscientious and effective service provision
“The council is not a
money-making organisation, but relies on goodwill, especially when you serve a
people and the people recognise the humble conditions you’re making towards
them, they will support you. And with that little privilege, our brother, Amb
Egelu Edise-Emi Bright, has thought it wise to give back to society."
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| Comrade Tikima L. Arigban, Chairman, IYC Lagos Chapter |
The President of IYC highlighted that
the gesture reflects the Assistant Secretary General's dedication to advancing
financial opportunities for young people. He encouraged them to cherish the
limited opportunities they have, emphasizing the importance of peace and unity
in our country. Furthermore, he admonished the Lagos Chapter to adamantly
refrain from undermining fellow Ijaw individuals for the pursuit of financial
gain in politics.
“If you are diligent,
there is a God available to prosper you. There are people in this country today
who have become rich by diligence. Somebody can give you five million Naira,
and the next day, you are back in the street if there is no diligence to manage
the resources given to you. We are now witnessing in the Ijaw Nation where we
fight to pull down ourselves just to benefit from money offered by politicians.
We
need peace and unity in our country. The council cannot go through a divided
house, especially when there is a fair leadership commitment to ensuring
harmony amongst us as a people.”
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Elder Regent Youmor
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Comrade Tikima L. Arigban, the
Chairman of IYC Lagos Chapter, expressed gratitude to the attendees and
commended Amb Egelu for organizing the event. He underscored the role of the
Ijaw Youth Council as a pressure group dedicated to upholding traditional
culture and safeguarding the interests of the Ijaw Nation. Additionally, he
advised the beneficiaries to make the most of the opportunity provided to them.
The event included impactful lectures
on "Human Power Development: A Pathway to a Peaceful and Greater Ijaw
Nation," delivered by Comrade Baitei Fukpene. He commended Amb Egelu for
empowering Lagos Chapter youth with essential skills they need
to succeed rather than handouts, quoting the
Chinese philosopher Lao Tzu: "Give a man a fish, and you feed him for a
day. Teach him how to fish, and you feed him for a lifetime."
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| Comrade Baitei Fukpene |
Comrade Godspower Fiyebo Eperete, the
second speaker and a senior point-of-sales (POS) associate at Perecity
Enterprise, who has been mobilising solutions and
initiatives to strengthen the capacities of young people in business, emphatically underscored the significance of the code
of conduct, dedication, and discipline in the POS business during his
presentation to the beneficiaries.
The event was graced by the presence
of notable individuals such as Sir Jonathan Lokpobiri Snr., IYC President, Prof.
D. D. Moro, Comrade Freedom Atigbi, IYC Deputy President, Comrade Ari
Fekorigha, IYC Director of Mobilisation, Comrade Victor-Gow Ayebatari, IYC
Financial Secretary and Mallam Africa (MC).
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| Comrade Godspower Fiyebo Eperete, |
Also in attendance were Pst Ebitimi
Dio-Posibi (Guest of Honour), Comrade Tikima Arigban, Chairman IYC Lagos
Chapter, High Chief James A. Stephen, Amananaowei of Ijaw, Ajegunle, Apapa,
Elder Regent Youmor (Father of the Day), Elder Asu Beks, renowned maritime
journalist, Comrade Anthony Oki, Comrade Owen Naphtali, Mr Barnabas McClint
Ebiede and Comrade Pius from IYDA.
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(l-r) High Chief Stephen, Elder Youmor, Sir Lokpobiri, Pst Dio-Posibi
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| Elder Asu Beks & Amb Egelu Edise-Emi Bright |
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| (l-r) Prof Moro, Pst Dio-Posibi, High Chief Stephen, Elder Youmor & Comrd Fukpele |
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A Cross Section of Participants
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Guests of Beneficiaries
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| (l-r) Comrade Tikima, Comrade Pius, Comrade Oki, Comrade Owen Naphtali |
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Barnabas McClint Ebiede & Sir Jonathan Lokpobiri Snr
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Pst Ebitimi Dio-Posibi, INC Chairman, Lagos State
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Comrade Youmor In A Handshake With Sir Lokpobiri
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POS Machines
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Comrade Gabriel Ominijei
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(l-r) Perekeme Odon, Amb Egelu Bright & Lucky-ere Udisi
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Elder Asu Beks, Maritime Journalist
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(l-r) Amb Egelu, Elder Youmor & Sir Lokpobiri Flanked By Admirers
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(l-r) Amb Egelu, Beneficiary & Sir Jonathan Lokpobiri
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| High Chief James A. Stephen, Amananaowei of Ijaw, Ajegunle |
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A Photograph With The IYC National Executives
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Cultural Display
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Prof D. D. Moro FSEAN, FIMPD, Vice Chancellor, CPTEC University, Lome, Togo
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A Group Photograph With The IYC Executives
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IYC Lagos Women's Unit
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| Super MC Mallam Africa |
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Comrade Anthony Oki, Former IYC Assistant National Secretary
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The Team
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Group Photograph With The IYC Executives
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