By Akpos Oghenetega,
Senator representing Delta Central, Ede Dafinone, has declared that the exclusion of local youths from economic opportunities in their own community is unacceptable, calling for urgent and deliberate action to reverse the trend.
The senator made the remarks on Thursday during a high-profile visit to the reinstated Youth President of the Sapele-Okpe community, Comrade Obomine Ekariko, where a large crowd of youths, women, and stakeholders gathered at Abeke/Olympia Junction in a show of solidarity.“Our youths must not be left out. It is not acceptable that companies operate here and our young people are not employed,” Dafinone said, stressing the need to create opportunities within the community.
“We must open those doors and ensure our people can work, grow, and build their future here at home,” he added.
The visit coincided with a formal directive by the Sapele Okpe Community Land Trust Association, which reaffirmed Ekariko’s position following consultations with community leaders and elders. The directive also approved a new grassroots leadership structure, naming Mikel Ayomanor (Egborode), Tivere Abeke (Oton), William Onofeuvre (Etamua), and Justice Dordokior (Ogodo) as quarter youth chairmen.
Dafinone emphasised that youth empowerment must go beyond rhetoric, insisting on structured engagement with companies operating in the area, particularly in the oil and gas sector.
“We will engage the companies here and ensure barriers are reduced so our young people can gain employment, acquire skills, and even establish their own businesses,” he said.
He also used the occasion to address lingering divisions within the youth body, urging the leadership to adopt an inclusive style.“Leadership is not about exclusion. When you carry everyone along, you build strength for the future,” he noted.
The lawmaker linked youth inclusion to sustainable development, warning that the future of the community depends on how widely opportunities are distributed.
“We must build many strong people, not just a few. The future depends on how many of our youths are empowered today,” he said.
On the broader economic situation, Dafinone referenced national reforms under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Delta State Governor Sheriff Oborevwori, acknowledging current hardships while urging patience.
“There is hardship, yes—fuel and food prices are high—but these reforms are necessary to build a stable economy for tomorrow,” he stated.
Responding, Ekariko acknowledged past internal disagreements but pledged to lead with inclusiveness and service.
“We have had our differences, but this is the time to come together. This leadership will be about service, not power,” he said.
“We will not abuse this office. Everyone will have a place, and we will depend on your ideas and wisdom,” he added, promising to work closely with the newly confirmed quarter youth leaders.
“We are going to operate as one team across Egborode, Oton, Etamua, and Ogodo. No quarter will be left behind,” he assured.
A stakeholder at the event summed up public sentiment, noting that while the renewed focus on jobs and inclusion has raised hope, it has also heightened expectations.
With the leadership structure now firmly in place and backed by both political authority and grassroots support, attention is turning to whether the promises made will translate into tangible opportunities for youths in Sapele-Okpe.
