By Tunde Oso

A prominent Niger Delta activist and social crusader, Oghenekaro Edor, has called on youths in the South-South region to seize the opportunities presented by the newly rehabilitated Port Harcourt Refinery by acquiring the necessary skills for employment in the upgraded facility.

He emphasized that the era of menial jobs in the oil industry is coming to an end and urged youths to focus on skill development to secure better prospects in the sector.

Speaking at a one-day workshop in Udu, Delta State, on Thursday, December 19, 2024, Edor highlighted the importance of vocational training in the modern economy. The event, themed “Revitalization of Nigeria’s Refineries: Maximizing Effects on the Region and Achieving National Synergy,” aimed to educate, sensitize, and enlighten youths about the evolving landscape of the oil industry and its skill-driven opportunities.

Edor praised the Group Chief Executive Officer (CGEO) of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), Engr. Mele Kyari, for overcoming challenges to bring the Port Harcourt Refinery back on stream after its shutdown in 2019. He described the refinery as a “national monument” and commended Kyari’s efforts in reviving it to create jobs for the Niger Delta youths.

The activist lamented the region’s lag in skill acquisition compared to other parts of the country and stressed the need for self-evaluation among youths to redirect their focus toward becoming skilled workers in the oil industry.

“To combat poverty and unemployment,” Edor stated, “youths must acquire skills that align with industry demands. Building synergy with peers from other regions will further enhance their competitive edge.”

He urged the youth to abandon violent agitations and redirect their energy toward capacity building to thrive in the evolving economy. “With the NNPCL advancing the rehabilitation of the Warri and Kaduna refineries, only skilled individuals will secure employment. This underscores the importance of skill acquisition,” Edor said, encouraging regional leaders to mentor the youth.

Edor also emphasized the need for the Niger Delta youth to rise above political thuggery and instead focus on self-reliance. “The era of chasing petty money is over,” he declared. “It’s time for our youths to take control of the oil industry with their skills and manpower. Building an economic hub in our region, similar to those in Asia, Europe, and America, is achievable with a re-engineered and self-reliant population.”

Chartered economist Ahamefule Agbawo, also speaking at the event, urged the youth to take full advantage of the refinery’s upgraded capacity while commending Engr. Kyari and the NNPCL management.

Other notable attendees included the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC), represented by spokesperson Comrade Brerefa Bedford, who stressed the importance of harmonious relationships among ethnic groups in the region, and Amb. (Pastor) Edewor Egedegbe, Executive Director of Value Rebirth and Empowerment Initiative (VREI), who advocated for stronger regional cohesion and synergy.