Resources Ownership: No Meaningful Development for Ijaw People, Says Okaba
Professor Benjamin Okaba, President of the Ijaw National Congress (INC), has emphasized that the ownership of Nigeria’s vital resources has not translated into meaningful opportunities for growth and development for the Ijaw people.
Speaking at the two-day pre-summit conference for the inaugural Pan-Ijaw Economic Summit 2024 in Yenagoa, organized by the INC and the Azaiki Foundation, Professor Okaba, wants Ijaws to be afforded the same treatment as other resource-rich communities globally to keep poverty at bay.
He stressed that the summit aims to re-strategize and empower the Ijaw community to take a leading role in both the oil industry and the Blue Economy.
Also speaking, Professor Steve Azaiki, co-convener of the summit, announced that the platform will serve as a resource for the conference in Port Harcourt.
In a goodwill message, Former President Goodluck Jonathan, represented by Ambassador Godknows Igali, underlined the importance of leveraging resources from various countries.
He highlighted the significance of the ongoing formal discussions on the blue economy, urging for preparation and training of their workforce accordingly.
Also, Retired Rear Admiral Gboribiogha John-Jonah, chairman of the occasion underscored that the upcoming summit will focus on actionable implementation steps.
He noted that there are numerous critical issues to address, reflecting the strong commitment of the organizers to ensure productive discussions.
Delivering a keynote address, Governor Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers State, represented by Chief Tammy Danagogo, Secretary to the State Government, emphasized that the theme of the pre summit conference summarizes the collective aspirations of the Ijaw people for economic advancement and their right to a healthy living environment.
Governor Fubara highlighted that the aspirations are deeply rooted in the Ijaw community’s history and have fueled ongoing demands for environmental justice.
Similarly, in achieving economic sustainability, Ms.Ann-Kio Briggs, a prominent environmentalist and human rights activist, emphasizes the necessity of holding accountable those responsible for environmental degradation.
She states that despite the damage inflicted, actionable steps can still be taken to rehabilitate affected areas.
The event culminated with technical sections and a communique, which is expected to set the tone for the discourse of the main Summit to be held in December in the Port Harcourt.
