By Paul Williams
The Niger Delta Progressives Alliance (NDPA) has launched a sensitization campaign to educate young people across the region on how to access federal government programmes and policies designed to improve their lives.
Speaking during a one-day sensitization forum held at Bon Hotel, Asaba, over the weekend, with the theme ‘Empirical Perspective on President Tinubu’s Offers in Two Years: A Strategic Engagement of Niger Deltans on Accessibility,’ the Convener of NDPA, Victor Udoh, said the initiative was driven by the realization that many people in the region are not benefiting from federal interventions – not because they are excluded, but because they lack the right information.
“For instance, in the 2024/2025 NELFUND student loan programme, 65 percent of beneficiaries are from the North, while 35 percent are from the South — and most of that 35 percent are from the South-West. It’s not that our people were denied; they simply didn’t apply. Many don’t even believe these opportunities are real,” Udoh said.
He said the group aims to equip citizens with the knowledge to access government programmes directly, without middlemen or illegal charges. Udoh added that increased participation in initiatives such as the National Directorate of Employment (NDE) and the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN) would strengthen the region’s economic base and foster peace.
“When people are economically empowered, communities become more secure and stable,” he noted. “That’s why we’re taking this message from state to state across the Niger Delta.”
Also speaking, Engr. Jator Abido, National Coordinator of the Niger Delta Youth Council Worldwide and Paramount Ruler of Niger Delta Communities in the North, said the gap in access between northern and southern youths remains concerning.
“More northerners are taking advantage of these programmes than southerners,” he said. “That’s why we’ve taken it upon ourselves to educate our people about these initiatives—NELFUND, SMEDAN, and other presidential projects—and how they can change lives.”
Abido highlighted federal efforts to support the region’s growth, including the award of pipeline surveillance contracts to companies such as Pipeline Infrastructure Nigeria Limited (PINL), which he described as deeply committed to the development of the Niger Delta.
“PINL has played a major role in ending pipeline vandalism and oil theft,” he said. “Their operations have helped increase oil production from under one million barrels per day to nearly two million, while creating thousands of jobs for youths and funding scholarships, training, and skills acquisition programmes.”
He emphasized that these initiatives align with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, calling on Niger Delta youths to embrace the opportunities available.
“The President means well for the Niger Delta,” Abido said. “Students can benefit from NELFUND loans, entrepreneurs can access SMEDAN funds, and even small producers in rural areas can get help to process and export their goods.”
The Secretary-General of NDPA and host of the event, Felix Ejenavi, said the sensitization drive—which began in Rivers State—will extend to all nine states of the Niger Delta.
In his remarks, ThankGod Trakiriowei, Delta State Commissioner for Youth Development, commended President Tinubu and Governor Sheriff Oborevwori for implementing programmes that have had tangible impact on citizens’ lives. He urged young people in the region to seize the opportunities available through federal and state platforms to empower themselves and build sustainable livelihoods.
