Yenagoa — The Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer (MD/CEO of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Dr. Samuel Ogbuku, had called on Nigerians youths to take advantage of the vast opportunities in information technology and other spheres and make themselves useful instead of relying on government handouts.
Speaking at the 2nd edition of Bayelsa Creative Converge (BCC 2.0) held in Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State, Ogbuku also urged young Nigerians to seize available opportunities and work towards achieving their goals rather resorting to illicit activities like cyber-crime.
The NDDC boss, emphasized that information technology is something that the youths must take advantage because it's an area "where you don't need government to employ you."
The event organized to honour creative Bayelsans and encourage youths of the state to engage in creative ventures and enterprises had notable entrepreneurs, artists, actors and actresses across the state and Nigeria at large.
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Notable personalities who graced the occasions includes Bayelsans born actress, Sarian Martin, musician Timi Dakolo, J. Martins, publisher, Daniel Iworiso-Martin and Dr. Obinna Ezeobi, the General Manager, Corporate Communication of the Nigeria Content Monitoring and Development Board (NCDMB), among others.
The NDDC boss while stressing the importance of hard work and dedication, shared his personal story, highlighted how he resisted the temptation of crime in his youth and instead worked towards his goals.
He encouraged young professionals to take pride in their identity and origins, regardless of societal constraints.
"My message to our young professionals is that in whatever opportunity you have in life, just know that you are working for yourself. Do not think that you are working for someone," he said.
"Be proud of who you are, be proud of where you're coming from. Your environment should not limit you. Achieve success wherever you find yourself," he added.
The NDDC boss emphasized that destiny is not defined by family status or social conditions, and that opportunities are available for those who seek them.
"Your opportunities in life are not restricted to who your mother or father is," he said. "I always believed I would be a leader, so I carried myself as one. That belief shaped the choices I made."
He cited examples of individuals who have achieved success through legitimate means, such as a bread seller who became a celebrity.
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Ogbuku also highlighted initiatives by NDDC to support young people, including the youth internship scheme and the Niger Delta Chamber of Commerce.
He urged youths to take advantage of these opportunities and leverage technology to build successful careers.
"I just want to advise our young people, because we must know that cyber-crime is real, cyber bullying is real, because we are one people and people are not taking advantage of that to arrest and jail people, does not mean you take it for granted.
"Put that your energy into areas where you make money. People have You-Tube channels and making money out of it.
"People are doing software development and are working with different international organizations sitting in their houses making money in foreign currency. You can take advantage of it.
"Let us take advantage of the new innovations of tech. Tech is something that we must take advantage of and make money legitimately. We must look at areas where you don't need government to employ you," he said.
