The immediate past governor of Delta State, Ifeanyi Okowa, has expressed confidence that the ongoing economic reforms introduced by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will set Nigeria on the right track toward progress and stability.
Okowa made the statement in Asaba while attending a youth-focused event where he was conferred with the “Living Legend” award by the Delta State chapter of the National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN). He emphasized that Tinubu’s decision to end fuel subsidy, especially one funded by borrowing, marked a necessary departure from previous economic missteps.
According to him, “Salaries are being paid constantly now. Allocations to the states and local government councils have increased remarkably. During my tenure as governor, we had to support local government councils to pay salaries. But today, local government councils are in better positions to pay salaries and execute projects. But that does not mean that everything is okay yet. There is still a lot of work to be done.”
The former governor explained that the removal of subsidy had freed up funds for all levels of government, improving their fiscal capacity. He urged local government councils to utilize the increased allocations wisely by investing in infrastructure, supporting farmers and traders with grants, and fostering economic productivity in their communities.
He also called on Nigerian youths to take charge of their future, stressing that government alone cannot secure their success. “Building the youths is not just the job of the government of the federation or that of the state or the government at the local government level. The youths themselves have to be prepared to be built. They have to be prepared to use the energy in them, and their God-given talents to work along with the government to bring a total turnaround of our nation.”
Delta State Governor Sheriff Oborevwori, represented by Commissioner for Environment Ejiro Jamani, assured that the state government would continue to prioritize youth empowerment through training, skill acquisition, and capacity development to ensure self-reliance.
Chief Innocent Esewezie, Executive Chairman of Oshimili North Local Government, praised the recognition given to Okowa, noting it was the first time a former Delta governor had received such an honour from the state’s youth.
The NYCN Chairman, Comrade Kenneth Okorie, explained that the ceremony was part of a two-week-long International Youth Day celebration, which included paper presentations on the theme “Empowering the Youths: Building the Future,” delivered by academics such as Delta State University’s Deputy Vice Chancellor, Prof. Hillary Ijeoma Owama.
Reports has it that the event blended celebration with dialogue on Nigeria’s economic future, using Okowa’s recognition as an example of leadership appreciation by the youth.