Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta state has said that the #ThinkDeltaFirst campaign being championed by Ovie Success Ossai, one of the governor’s Special Assistants is about engaging in productive ventures that will not drag the name of the state in the mud.
Governor Okowa who is passionate about placing Delta state in the forefront of the comity of states in Nigeria, advised Deltans that it is more productive to engage in creative ventures that will fetch life-changing revenue than engaging in fraud which in the long tun will ruin future prospects.
Okowa spoke at the weekend at Delta State Polytechnic, Otefe-Oghara during the second round of the #ThinkDeltaFirst campaign, a mindset change initiative put together by Ovie Success Ossai.
Represented by Ifeanyi Egwunyenga, the Delta state commissioner for youths, the governor said youths should think of what they can do to better their lives and add to the development of the state.
He said no youth is useless to society, noting that youths needed right guides, right mentors and their future would be greater than they ever anticipated. He advised youths to have character and shun vices that could stain the reputation of the state.
Barrister Bridget Anyafulu, the state commissioner for humanitarian affairs, told the students that #ThinkDeltaFirst is about redirecting their energies and put priority attention on things beneficial to both the youths and the state.
“ThinkingDeltaFirst is about who we are, our families and our state. You need to work hard to meet challenges confronting you. Getting money through the easy way is not the best approach to success. The only thing cultism brings is pain. You need self discipline, you need to make long term plan for your life,” Anyafulu told the youths.
She added: “It’s not about getting money, it’s about thinking of a good future for your life. You need skills that will last for you. You should not technology to dupe people or engage in Yahoo business.
“Get skills that will help you, your families snd the state. Have good character, sacrifice some momentary gain for the future. I know you can do better because you have the strength. Kill yahoo business for now. It is not important. It will dedtroy your life, your dream and your future.”
Ossai Ovie Success, convener of #ThinkDeltaFirst, also condemned cultism and cybercrime, saying youth who practice these evils do not represent the state.
He said: “As Deltans, we need to represent the state anywhere we find ourselves. Cybercrime and cultism are crimes against the state and our institutions of learning
“We must stop destroying and vandalising government properties. Delta belongs to all of us. It’s our responsibility and represent the state.
“To politicians, when we think Delta first, we will not steal money and take overseas to develop foreign countries. Industrialists should invest in the state. Every part of the state needs investment to develop. We should also protect government properties in our areas of residence.”
Shimite Bello, an executive assistant to the governor on export promotions, told the polytechnic students what skills could fetch them beyond having a graduate certificate.
Bello, who is fondly called mama sabificate, said though she studied political science in the university, she has a problem with people just holding ordinary certificates without skills.
According to her: “Every certificate you have today is somebody’s sabificate. Everything you learn in school is somebody’s idea. You are paying money to learn their skills. You should invent your own for people to pay and learn.
“When people say there is no job in Nigeria is a lie from the pit of hell. What they should say is that there is no brain to think. Look for who can help you bring out the ideas in you.”
Rector of the Polytechnic, Professor Emmanuel Opujor, said students should engage in things that bring glory to the state.
He told the students that internet fraud neither brings glory to the state nor the individual.
