NDDC’s Internship Scheme As A Stitch in Time That Will Save Nigeria’s “Unemployment Nine”, by Jerome-Mario Utomi

In Nigeria, like in other parts of the world, it is believed that the viability of democracy depends upon the openness, reliability, appropriateness, responsiveness, and two-way nature of the communication environment. Democracy depends upon the regular sending and receiving of signals – not only between the people and their elected representatives but also among the people themselves.

Supporting the above assertion was the torrent of inter, intra and crossed commentaries by Niger Deltans at the launch by the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, of a Youth Internship Scheme initiated by the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), for 10,000 youths from the Niger Delta region in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

For a better understanding of why this piece specifically appreciates NDDC’s decision to empower youths of the region, it is important to first, underline that Nigeria is a vast country with vast problems that disrupt its progress. But one need not pause to know that the most pernicious of all these problems is youth unemployment.

Tragically unique is the awareness that the unemployment challenge in the country has not only defiled nearly every known solution but remained on steady rise in recent decades.

As the challenge remained on the increase, even so were the efforts by successive administrations to have the monster arrested. While some of these efforts were genuine, others were mere declarations of intent brazenly characterized by no clear definition of the problem, the goal to achieve, the means chosen to address the challenge or well codified means of giving interim support to the unemployed with basic good means of livelihood such as food and security.

Take as an illustration, a story was told of how many years ago, Nigerian youths received with open mind the promise of empowerment initiatives under the then government’s Social Investment Programme for the creation of employment and empowerment of Nigerians. But unfortunately, those excitements were short lived as many youths that indicated interest could neither register nor secure the training due to the clumsy nature of the arrangements.

Out of few that eventually registered, some could not complete the programme largely because of distance exuberated by the fact that the initiators failed to factor in (logistics/transportation/daily sustenance allowance) for the trainees. For obvious reasons, even those that completed the programme were more of non learners as being in school does not always lead to learning.

At that time, this sorry story, understandably raised a lot of worries among Nigerians.

With the above highlighted, this piece will comparatively spread-out particulars that differentiates the old experience from the present initiative by NDDC’s governing board and management.

Detailing the present Youth Internship Scheme, the Senate President said, “the 10,000 youths would be engaged in the programme designed to improve their skills. The beneficiaries in the first phase would be paid N50,000 monthly. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is committed to the development of the Niger Delta region’’.

What a visionary and sustainable way of empowering the youths!

Again, aside from the awareness that participants slated for this programme need not travel far to access the training as training locations are tragically brought to their doorsteps, unlike previous initiatives, also commendable on the part of NDDC’s governing board and management is their recognition that it Is in the interest of the government and the nation at large to create jobs/empower the youth as a formidable way of curbing crime and reducing threatening insecurity in the country. Most estimable is the Commission’s affirmation that it should be done not merely for political considerations but from the point of views of regional/national development and sustenance of our democracy.

Away from internship Scheme and FG’s N50,000 monthly Stipend to 10,000 Niger Delta Youths which when implemented, promises to empower the youths from the region, create self reliance, there are other hidden but genuine reasons why the people of the region, particularly youths are happy with the Commission.

First, in addition to addressing the region’s underdevelopment (infrastructures and capital), the youths of the region, going by commentaries are particularly happy that the current governing board and management operates in total compliance with the global prerequisite which says that any developmental effort without youth empowerment and job creation at its centre will take such society, region or nation nowhere.

Closely related to the above is the revelation by the Senate President, who, while commending the NDDC for restoring some damaged sections of the East-West Road, hinted that following a presidential directive, the NDDC recently inaugurated five flagship projects covering roads, bridges, and electricity across the region. This is in addition to the assurance that the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Road project would not only commence from Lagos but would also start simultaneously from the Niger Delta.

Even as the people of the region celebrate, there are hopeful signs of more silver lining in the horizon for the region and its people.

Take as an illustration, in his opening remarks, the Chairman of the NDDC Governing Board, Mr Chiedu Ebie, assured that the Commission would continue to focus on completing capital projects that would add value to the Niger Delta region.

Ebie said, “Our commitment is to work towards transforming the region, in line with the 8-Point Presidential Priorities, as well as in accordance with the demands of the NDDC Act of 2000.” He thanked members of the National Assembly for expeditiously passing the 2024 budget of the Commission, which would set the tone for the implementation of projects and programmes benefiting the people of the Niger Delta region.

For his part, the NDDC Managing Director, Dr Samuel Ogbuku, in a similar vein stated that the people of the Niger Delta region had transitioned from militant agitation to intellectual struggle, noting that the region was now reaping the benefits of these struggles.

He said, “We have provided more opportunities and hope to Niger Delta youths through our Holistic Opportunity Projects of Engagement, designed to identify youth interests for skills training.” The NDDC boss said that Project HOPE had helped the Commission develop a comprehensive digital repository, containing important information about the youths of the Niger Delta region, including their qualifications, skills, interests, needs, and current employment status.

From Project Hope to building partnership, Ogbuku remarked that the NDDC was working with the Niger Delta Chamber of Commerce to train youths and young entrepreneurs in the Niger Delta region, stating that the Commission would collaborate with the Chamber of Commerce to support Small and Medium Enterprises in the region and ensure the sustainability of youth development programmes. “We will also partner with the Bank of Industry to fund projects, support businesses, and facilitate the success of our empowerment programmes. We will provide all necessary support for youth entrepreneurship schemes,” he concluded.

To completely come out of the throws of unemployment, this piece holds the opinion that youths from the region must, on their part, recognise that ‘the future is full of promises as it is fraught with uncertainties. That the industrial society is giving way to one based on knowledge’. They must, therefore, learn to be part of the knowledge-based world. The youths must shun instant gratification mentalities and other negative influences emanating from the social media that have conspired to render them morally bankrupt.

In like manner, the Federal Government should as a matter of urgency replicate NDDC’s youth empowerment model in other regions of the country. This, no doubt, will go a long way in throwing Nigeria’s monster youth unemployment which breeds all manner of restiveness into extinction. If implemented, it will become a stitch in time, that will definitely save Nigeria’s “unemployment nine”.

But for me, NDDC’s Internship Scheme has marked the beginning of something new and different for the youths from the region.

Utomi , writes from Lagos, Nigeria