Youths in the Niger Delta region on Tuesday extolled the sterling qualities of the Minister of the Niger Delta Affairs, Chief Godswill Akpabio, describing him as a man of honour.

Besides, the youths, under the aegis of Niger Delta Youth Movement (NDYM) praised the National Assembly for working with the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs towards the realization of its objectives.

At a gathering in Calabar, the youths expressed delight and satisfaction with the high degree of determination so far exhibited by Senator Akpabio to move the Niger Delta region forward.

‘Senator Godswill Akpabio is a shining example, a model to all of us, of what service is all about. He has so far demonstrated an admirable commitment to doing everything possible to develop the Niger Delta region the youths said.

Addressing newsmen after their one day conference in Cross River State, Secretary General of NDYM, Dr. Raymond Umanah said the youths praised Akpabio for embracing the challenge of developing the region with a missionary zeal, restructuring the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) and reintroducing public accountability for the use of public resources.

‘’Senator Godswill Akpabio, a man of great organizational ability, has continued to carry himself with grace and dignity without compromising his integrity’’

The youths commended the growing unity and understanding among stakeholders in the region.

They youths emphasized national development, patriotism, transparency and accountability.

The youths also praised the Minister of the Niger Delta Affairs for tackling effectively impediments in the way of improving development in the region, pulling the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) back from the state of retrogression and giving the region the desired sense of purpose and direction.

Lagos State Governor, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu has said the global Covid-19 pandemic has clearly underscored the need for the people to adopt a lifestyle of continuous re-strategizing and repositioning to keep up to speed with new realities.

The Governor, who spoke while declaring open a 2-day virtual training for members of the Committee of Wives of Lagos State Officials (COWLSO) on Protocol, Security and Etiquette, said the pandemic was a perfect pointer to the fact that people must be willing to constantly review, adjust and innovate to suit changing times.

According to him, “It is important that we keep re-strategizing and position ourselves for optimum performance in the future. It is important because life, as we used to know it, has been drastically altered and we need to adapt and innovate with the changing times and we can only do this effectively when we are willing to review, adjust and innovate to suit changing times, priorities and needs. In the new normal, this is an absolute must!”

He said it was particularly commendable that the COWLSO leadership did not allow the virus to slow down the activities of the Committee, saying that in itself, was made possible through innovation.

“I must say that much of this year has gone by in a blur amidst the global Covid-19 pandemic that has ravaged much of the world, to date, with Lagos State and Nigeria at large, not being spared. We are, however, emerging slowly out of the perilous season, even though there is still so much we do not know about the virus or the rate of contagion.

“It is therefore apt and pleasing to note that this conference is being conducted virtually, a sign of our new season and times and it is the third in a series of the seminar organised for COWLSO members.

“I want to thank the First Lady, Lagos State, Dr. Mrs. Claudiana Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu and the wife of the Deputy Governor, Mrs Oluremi Hamzat for not allowing the pandemic to slow them down. They have taken advantage of the difficult times we face to educate members of the Committee,” the Governor said.

Speaking on the essence of the workshop, he said it was designed to enhance professional skills of COWLSO members in representational duties coupled with a solid and sufficient grasp of the security implication of state assignments, while supporting their spouses who hold key public positions.

“As spouses of the officials of the Lagos State Government, you all have very key important roles to play in shaping, influencing and communicating the policies and programmes of our administration. This can only be done when you have been properly equipped through training such as this.” Sanwo-Olu said.

He enjoined participants to make the best of the training to benefit the society, adding: “It is important to know that it is not about the position but how much we influence lives around us in our churches, mosques and our society generally for a better nation.”

Besides, the Governor expressed solidarity with COWLSO leadership and members as they plan for the 20^th edition of the annual National Women’s Conference scheduled to hold between the 14^th and 15^th of October, 2020, just as he promised to extend the necessary support.

In her opening remarks, COWLSO Chairman and Lagos State First Lady, Dr. (Mrs.) Claudiana Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu said the training was in line with the vision of the founding mothers of the Committee towards training and retraining of members to complement their spouses in delivering good governance to the people.

“Our world and times are changing and so we too have to continuously do a needs assessment and improve ourselves. We need to be incident commanders at all times in the home, in the environment, state and nation.

“We need to bridge the gaps in communicating the ideals of the government to our people, be the listening ear, be the voice of the voiceless galvanizing the youths and women, caring for the aged, lifting each other up, teaching technology to the grassroot women in rural areas, having clean environment, better health facilities, improved learning techniques, having clearer and sharper communication skills, and defending the welfare of our state and country at all times,” the First Lady said.

Other topics to be discussed at the training include Financial Literacy, Crop Agriculture, Fish Farming, Health Awareness, Public Speaking, Law, Motivational Talk, Aerobics, among others.