By Anne Azuka
The Niger Delta Progressives Alliance (NDPA) has launched a sensitization campaign to educate youths in the Niger Delta on how to access various federal government intervention programmes and policies, aimed at improving their economic and social well-being.
The one-day event, held over the weekend in Asaba, Delta State, was themed “Empirical Perspective on President Bola Tinubu’s Offers in Two Years: A Strategic Engagement of Niger Deltans on Accessibility.” The initiative seeks to bridge the information gap preventing citizens from benefiting from government opportunities.
Convener of NDPA, Mr. Victor Udoh, said the sensitization exercise was designed to help residents, particularly youths, understand how to directly access government programmes without intermediaries or payment.
“Our target is to ensure that Niger Deltans are aware of and can benefit from the federal government’s initiatives,” Udoh explained. “For instance, the NELFUND student loan programme statistics show that 65 percent of the 2024/2025 beneficiaries are from the North, while only 35 percent are from the South, mainly the South-West. This gap exists not because our people are excluded but because they don’t apply, thinking the scheme is unreal.”
He expressed optimism that the 2025/2026 cycle would see more southern beneficiaries, reducing the burden of tuition payments on parents. Udoh also cited programmes under SMEDAN and the National Directorate of Employment (NDE), urging greater participation to enhance economic empowerment and community stability.
Also speaking, Engr. Jator Abido, National Coordinator of the Niger Delta Youth Council Worldwide and Paramount Ruler of Niger Delta Communities in the North, decried the disparity in participation between the North and South in accessing federal government schemes.
“More Northerners are accessing these programmes than Southerners,” Abido stated. “That’s why we have taken it upon ourselves to enlighten Niger Deltans on how these policies work and how they can transform lives across our region.”
Abido commended the federal government for its efforts to boost oil production and curb vandalism through initiatives such as the pipeline surveillance contracts awarded to Pipeline Infrastructure Nigeria Limited (PINL).
“PINL has significantly reduced pipeline vandalism and oil theft, increasing production from below one million barrels per day to nearly two million,” he said. “The company has created thousands of jobs and implemented several Corporate Social Responsibility programmes, including scholarships, training, and skill acquisition.”
According to him, the NDPA’s sensitization drive aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, ensuring that the people of the Niger Delta understand and benefit from ongoing federal initiatives.
“Students can benefit from NELFUND loans, while entrepreneurs can access SMEDAN funding and business partnerships,” he noted. “Those involved in agriculture or small-scale production can also get support for exports and market linkages.”
The Secretary-General of NDPA, Mr. Felix Ejenavi, who hosted the event, announced that the campaign began in Rivers State and would extend to all Niger Delta states.
In his remarks, Delta State Commissioner for Youth Development, Barr. ThankGod Trakiriowei, commended President Tinubu and Governor Sheriff Oborevwori for introducing youth-focused programmes that positively impact lives. He encouraged Niger Delta youths to take advantage of the available opportunities to empower themselves and contribute to national development.
