The leadership and membership of the Wakirike National Students Union have been called upon to play a major role in re-orienting youth against involvement in drugs and other criminal activities.
Sole Administrator of Okrika Local Government Area, Engr. Tamunobipiboye Thompson Isodiki, gave the charge when the Wakirike National Students Union and leaders of the various campuses students union paid him a courtesy visit in his office.
Isodiki expressed concern about the high level of drug addiction and other criminal activities involving young people, cautioning that if the trend wasn’t checked, it could create serious problem in the local government area.
He said, “As students expect you to discourage young people who are seriously involved in these acts as to create a crime free society.”
The Sole Administrator stated that on his part, he would embark on people oriented projects.
“My stay in office is not tenured , but I will pursue people oriented programmes and projects for the overall benefits of our people,” he added.
He disclosed that his decision to embark on the Joint Admission Matriculation Board (JAMB) Computer Base Testing (CBT) centre is to reduce the pain experienced by the teeming population of candidates of the local government area that travel very far to write the test.
Isodiki also pointed out that the recent take over of the Ogoloma Youth Centre by the Council was a deliberate attempt to get a place to train youths to acquire skills, to provide middle level manpower, and create employment opportunities among the youths.
On the issue of bursary payment raised by the students, he said “As essential as it is, the government will study the situation among other pressing issues and within available resources we will pay bursary in due time”.
He noted that other groups have also visited the council for similar request, adding that all would be addressed based on availability of funds.
The Sole Administrator noted with delight that various activities and programmes have been initiated by the students and assured them that the council would partner with them to execute the programmes.
While thanking them for the visit, Isodiki advised them to be focused on their studies and avoid issues that would bring shame to their parents and the generality of the local government area.
The Chief of Staff to the Sole Administrator, Dr Paul Wakama on his part, cautioned the students against embarking on risky journeys.
Earlier, National President of the Wakirike Students Union, Mr Owubokiri Bright Jamabo, congratulated the Sole Administrator on his appointment and announced him as the Patron of the union by reason of his appointment.
Jamabo disclosed that the union would carry out summer classes during the long vacation to teach secondary school pupils in all subjects and the Okrika Language, too.
He appealed to the Sole Administrator to pay bursary to students and sponsor the various activities and programmes, especially the Cultural Day Programme of the Rivers State College of Health, Science and Technology and promised that the students would always support his administration.
