Onyedebelu Pledges More Support For Skills, Agriculture, Innovation, Grants
Youths from oil-producing communities in Imo State have endorsed Governor Hope Uzodimma for the Orlu Senatorial District seat in the 2027 elections, expressing confidence in his leadership and development initiatives.
The endorsement was made at a one-day youth summit organised by the Imo State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (ISOPADEC) to commemorate the 2026 International Youth Day at Rockview Hotel, Owerri.
The youths cited what they described as Uzodimma’s commitment to youth empowerment, infrastructure development, skills acquisition, digital transformation and economic advancement as reasons for backing his proposed bid for the Senate.
They also commended the governor for appointing Chief Austin Onyedebelu as Managing Director of ISOPADEC, saying the appointment and the commission’s youth-focused programmes demonstrated the administration’s commitment to inclusive development.
The vote of confidence and endorsement were formally moved by Comrade Okorie Dennis Ozor and seconded by the Niger Delta Critical Stakeholders Forum, represented by Prince Wisdom Ezinwa Nwauwa.
Nwauwa assured the governor and ISOPADEC management of the continued support and cooperation of youths across the oil-producing communities, while urging the administration to sustain programmes that would provide young people with relevant skills, employment, entrepreneurship opportunities, access to finance and sustainable livelihoods.
The summit, themed “Empowering Youths for Sustainable Development: Innovate, Lead and Transform,” brought together youths from oil-producing communities across Imo State, government officials, representatives of Federal Government agencies, development partners, traditional and community leaders and other stakeholders.
Speaking at the event, Onyedebelu reaffirmed ISOPADEC’s commitment to empowering young people in oil-producing communities through entrepreneurship, innovation, digital skills, agriculture, education, vocational training, scholarships, grants and other sustainable livelihood opportunities.
He described youth development as a strategic priority of the commission, stressing that the greatest resource of any society is its human capital.
Onyedebelu said ISOPADEC would continue to build the capacity of young people, connect them to opportunities and support them to become self-reliant, productive and economically viable.
He also called for stronger partnerships between ISOPADEC, the Federal and Imo State Governments, development partners, United Nations agencies, private-sector organisations and other institutions to expand opportunities available to youths in the oil-producing areas.
The ISOPADEC boss listed agriculture and agribusiness, ICT and digital skills, entrepreneurship, vocational and technical training, scholarships, grants, leadership development and exchange programmes among the areas the commission would continue to prioritise.
He particularly appealed to the United Nations and its agencies to deepen collaboration with the Imo State Government and ISOPADEC in youth employment, digital skills, climate resilience, healthcare, agricultural development, entrepreneurship grants, education, scholarships, leadership development and international exchange programmes.
Also speaking, the Commissioner for Digital Economy and E-Governance, Dr Chimezie Amadi, urged youths to take advantage of the Skill-Up Imo Programme, noting that digital skills had become increasingly important in the global economy.
Amadi expressed the willingness of the programme to partner with ISOPADEC to train youths in digital skills and equip them to establish businesses and take advantage of opportunities in the digital economy.
The Commissioner for Youth and Talent Hunt, Dr Emeka Mandela Ukaegbu, commended ISOPADEC for organising the summit and encouraged youths to develop innovative and creative ideas that would contribute to the development of Imo State.
Representatives of the Director-General of the National Automotive Design and Development Council, Otunba Oluwemimo Joseph Osanipin, and the Director-General of the National Directorate of Employment, Silas Agara, also expressed their agencies’ readiness to collaborate with ISOPADEC on skills acquisition, vocational training and employment opportunities.
The summit ended with stakeholders reaffirming their commitment to creating sustainable opportunities for young people and moving them from potential to purpose, productivity and prosperity.
Some Snapshots From The Event
