Delta state environmentalist and development advocate, Comrade Mulade Sheriff, has called on Governor Sheriff Oborevwori to adopt a strategic and pragmatic approach to industrialising the state by harnessing its rich agricultural and aquacultural resources.
Mulade, who is also the Ibe-Serimowei of Gbaramatu Kingdom in Warri South-West Local Government Area, emphasized that global leaders are now leveraging local resources to drive infrastructure development, job creation, and economic growth. He noted that Delta State, blessed with abundant natural and human resources, should not be left behind in this global shift.
Speaking on the need to diversify the state’s economy from overdependence on oil, Mulade said, “Delta State is richly endowed with arable land and marine resources. These can be harnessed not only to achieve food security and economic stability within the state but also to boost exports and attract investment.”
He stressed that an agro-based industrialisation plan would generate employment for the state’s large population of unemployed youths and women, reduce poverty levels, and enhance food affordability and sufficiency. According to him, engaging these demographics productively would convert idle manpower into valuable assets that contribute meaningfully to state development.
“By providing opportunities in agriculture and aquaculture, we can drastically reduce unemployment and its associated social vices. When young people and women are engaged in productive ventures, the rate of crime, prostitution, and other immoral acts will reduce significantly,” Mulade added.
He further pointed out the untapped economic potential of the state’s riverine communities, particularly in aquaculture. “Beyond crude oil, the riverine areas of Delta have vast marine resources that remain largely underutilized. Tapping into these can transform the coastal regions into hubs for seafood export and boost internally generated revenue,” he said.
Mulade warned that continued neglect of the younger generation would result in long-term consequences that could destabilize the social and economic fabric of the state. He urged the Oborevwori administration to take bold, apolitical steps toward industrialisation driven by agriculture and aquaculture.
In conclusion, he called for a development strategy that prioritises the needs of rural and underserved communities, asserting that such inclusive planning would secure a better future for Delta State. “This is a time for action, not politics. Let us use the resources we have to build a prosperous future for our people,” he said.
