The Forward Operating Base (FOB) Escravos of the Nigerian Navy on Wednesday wooed youths with career talks to curtail crime in its host communities in Delta.
By Edeki Igafe
The Forward Operating Base (FOB) Escravos of the Nigerian Navy on Wednesday wooed youths with career talks to curtail crime in its host communities in Delta.
Navy Capt. Ikenna Okoloagu, the Commanding Officer of the FOB Escravos, said in Warri that the aim was to disabused the minds of the youths from illegalities and build meaningful ventures in the youth.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the programme was organised alongside Medical and Educational Rhapsodies at Madangho Community in Warri South-west Local Government.
Youths from Arunton, Ajudaigbo and Ogidigben communities also participated in the programme.
Addressing newsmen at the venue of the exercise, Okoloagu said that the Base decided to embark on the programme as a way of showing appreciation to the host communities.
He said that the initiative was also in furtherance of the strategic directives of the Chief of Naval Staff (CNS), Vice Adm. Emmanuel Ogalla and the Base operational mandate under the Operation DELTA SANITY II.
According to Okoloagu, the FOB Escravos has enjoyed robust relationship with the host communities over the years and wished to sustain the cooperation.
“The career talk being conducted in collaboration with the Kedahan Services Limited Training School focus on various career and business opportunities as well as paths.
“The initiative will help to broaden the horizon of the youth toward a productive future, disabused their minds from criminalities and contribute to nation building,” he said.
He added that the gesture would enhance the realisation of the dictates of the strategic directives of the CNS to root out all forms of illegalities within the maritime environment.
“It is equally expected that this will support efforts geared towards increasing crude oil production thereby enhancing Nigeria’s economic prosperity,” Okoloagu said.
NAN reports that the medical rhapsody featured the provision of treated mosquitoes net, eye glasses, health education, consultation, medications, school bags, mathematical sets and other writing materials to students.
Also speaking, Mrs Rosemary Imhnanwa, Project Manager, Kedahan Services Limited Training School thanked the Nigerian Navy for the initiative.
Imhnanwa said that the initiative would change the perception of the locals who, according to her, believed that government should do everything for them.
“From the interaction we have with the community people, we have been able to change the narratives that government should provide all their needs.
“There are solutions to every problem, so they should be focusing on the opportunities in any problem to better their lives,” she said.
Imhnanwa, who described the gesture as fantastic initiative by the Nigerian Navy, appealed to them to keep it up.
She noted that with the gradual changes in the narratives, the youth would be better informed and be successful in life.
On his part, Mr Solomon Uwawa, Madangho Community leader thanked the Navy for the gesture and expressed hope that the career talk would help to change the perception of the youth for better. (NAN)
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