By Orogodo Kingsley
Long before assuming office as the third democratically elected Governor of Delta State, Dr. Ifeanyi Arthur Okowa had surrounded himself with a team of visionary professionals drawn from diverse sectors of the economy.
These individuals, many of them young, accomplished, and innovative, shared his belief in inclusive, skill-based economic growth and self-reliance.
This vision became the foundation of Okowa’s progressive leadership philosophy, anchored on building a generation of empowered youths equipped to drive sustainable development.
Throughout his political journey, the man fondly called Ekwueme consistently pursued one goal: to create a network of highly skilled and economically independent young people who would contribute meaningfully to the progress of their communities.
Under Okowa’s administration, Delta State recorded remarkable strides in youth development and job creation, arguably boasting one of the most skilled young populations in Nigeria today.
This transformation was the product of well-structured empowerment programs strategically designed to curb unemployment, reduce social vices, and stimulate enterprise.
At the heart of his SMART Agenda, youth empowerment was not just a policy but a deliberate investment in the state’s human capital.
The Skill Training and Entrepreneurship Program (STEP) trained over 7,000 youths in trades such as fashion design, hairdressing, catering, event management, and electrical installation, providing them with the necessary tools to launch sustainable businesses.
Similarly, the Youth Agricultural Entrepreneurship Program (YAGEP) empowered more than 10,000 young Deltans in areas like palm processing, aquaculture, poultry, and crop farming, boosting food production while creating a new wave of agripreneurs across the state.
Through the Girls Entrepreneurship and Skills Training Program (GEST), over 2,000 young women acquired vocational skills in fashion, catering, and beauty therapy, further promoting gender inclusion and financial independence.
Additionally, university graduates benefited from the Graduate Employment Enhancement Program (GEEP) and the ICT Youth Empowerment Program (ICT-YEP), where participants were trained in programming, coding, and animation, and supported with start-up tools to begin their ventures.
Collectively, these initiatives produced over 15,000 new entrepreneurs, created 250,805 direct jobs, and generated more than 1.3 million indirect employment opportunities, solidifying Okowa’s legacy as a leader who turned vision into tangible impact.
Beyond Delta, Dr. Okowa’s entrepreneurial model offers valuable lessons for Nigeria and Africa at large.
By prioritizing youth empowerment, skill development, and innovation, his approach presents a viable blueprint for achieving industrial revolution and reducing dependence on crude oil, a step toward a self-sustaining and productive economy.
