Governor of Rivers State, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi was one of three high profile speakers at this year’s Commonwealth Observance day held at the Westminister Abbey in London.
Since 1973, Commonwealth day has been marked on the second Monday in March by a unique multi faith Observance at the Westminister Abbey in London. Globally recognized persons who are embodiments of the year’s theme spirit are invited to deliver brief thought provoking testimonials.
This year, Governor Amaechi was invited to speak alongside Virgin Atlantic’s Richard Branson and Ricken Patel, Executive Director of Avaaz the largest online activist community. This year’s theme was “Opportunity through Enterprise” and Governor Amaechi shared the story of how some young persons in Rivers State are making giant strides through the various wealth creation and entrepreneurship opportunities provided by the Rivers State government.
He made particular mention of the Rivers State Sustai nable Development Agency (RSSDA) agric/agro allied business initiative which objective is to create wealth, guarantee grass roots independence and provide opportunity through enterprise for the rural poor. He also talked about the industry of urban youth in Rivers State. “Our urban youth have also achieved great things,” Governor Amaechi said. “For instance, Dabo Etela and Apola Opuda, two young men from Port Harcourt, have built a social enterprise called ‘Converge’ – a forum of over 1000 young innovators and entrepreneurs, converging to share ideas, pool resources, and indeed create ‘Opportunity through Enterprise’”
Singling out two out of the 28 beneficiaries of the RSSDA scheme, Ebenezer Ikashi, who owns The Servant Quick food Services in Ahoada, and Ella Stella Sharon a cement dealer from Ogba Egbema Ndoni Local Government Area of Rivers State, for mention , Amaechi said he was very thankful to all the beneficiaries of the scheme as well as Etela and Opuda, “for their energy and hard work, for transforming their communities, and for showing us in government that youth entrepreneurship is the best vehicle for inclusive growth.”
Amaechi was invited to speak at this year’s Observance because of “your incredible achievements at the national level, your personal commitment to policies that encourage enterprise and create opportunity and not least your personal engagement.”
The ceremony was attended by the Common wealth Secretary General, Common wealth High commissioners to the United Kingdom, and Senior Representatives of Her Majesty’s government. Unfortunately the Queen who was billed to attend the event cancelled as a result of a stomach bug.
Meanwhile ,local media reports said the PDP Governors’ Forum may meet in Amaechi’s absence to perfect a lingering plot to oust the Rivers State Governor as Chairman of Nigeria Governors’ Forum.All efforts so far by the Goodluck Jonathan presidency which is believed to be behind the moves against Amaechi have hit the rocks.There is no clear sign that PDPGF will succeed in ousting him yet as some key northern governors are believed to be with Amaechi.He is also strongly supported by governors in opposition party.But Jonathan is mounting pressure and there have been reports of attempts to infiltrate the ranks of Amaechi’s NGF supporters,so far without success.
….GOVERNOR CHIBUIKE ROTIMI AMAECHI’S TESTIMONIAL AT THE COMMONWEALTH DAY OBSERVANCE, WESTMINISTER ABBEY, MARCH 11, 2013
I am the governor of a state in Nigeria, a public servant, so what do I know of enterprise? Well, I know a lot more now than I did in 2008 when, worried by the problem of militancy in the Niger Delta, the Rivers State Sustainable Development Agency began the agric/agro allied business initiative. The objective of the scheme was to create wealth, guarantee grass roots independence and, yes, provide opportunity through enterprise for the rural poor.
In 2008, Rivers State was the fault-line of the Niger Delta struggle. Our infrastructure was out-dated, the economy was not conducive to business, educational opportunities were few and, as a result, the young people of the state were marginalised. The Niger delta militancy and the challenges it posed forced us in government to take a long, hard look at ourselves and clearly redefine our goals.
Which I am afraid is not always easy in government – perhaps we politicians all too often care more about being looked at than looking! But, we did look… and, eventually, we acted.
Today, the agric/agro allied business initiative has grown into the entrepreneurship and enterprise development scheme, and it has mentored and facilitated 28 grassroots millionaires helping them to start up businesses and create jobs, including Ebenezer Ikashi, who owns The Servant Quick food Services in Ahoada, and Ella Stella Sharon who has become a major cement dealer.
Our urban youth have also achieved great things – for instance, Dabo Etela and Apola Opuda, two young men from Port Harcourt, have built a social enterprise called ‘Converge’ – a forum of over 1000 young innovators and entrepreneurs, converging to share ideas, pool resources, and indeed create ‘Opportunity through Enterprise’
I would like to thank Ebenezer, Ella, Dabo, Apola and all our young entrepreneurs for their energy and hard work, for transforming their communities, and for showing us in government that youth entrepreneurship is the best vehicle for inclusive growth.
I would like to encourage young people throughout Commonwealth to direct their energy towards building a brighter future for their communities. And I would like to remind my fellow politicians, not just in Nigeria, but right across the Commonwealth, that we have a duty, through modernised infrastructure, through better governance, through more accessible education, through fighting militancy, through listening to and investing in our young people, we have a duty to enable the aspiring entrepreneurs of today so they can forge the enterprises of tomorrow – it is us in government who must provide the opportunity for “Opportunity through Enterprise”
