By Aherhoke Okioma, Yenagoa
King Bubaraye Dakolo of Ekpetiama Kingdom in Yenagoa Local Council of Bayelsa State has begun a mentorship programme to encourage youths on hard work and environmental consciousness.
The mentorship programme is in collaboration with an environmental rights-focused Non-Governmental organisation (NGO), Health of Mother Earth Foundation (HOMEF).
Participants drawn from oil bearing communities across Bayelsa, spent time, interacting with Dakolo in his palace.
The aim, the organisers said, is to get youths to draw inspiration from the monarch’s accomplishments, seek wisdom and prepare for leadership positions in the future.
Speaking with the youths, Dakolo, the Agada the IV, of Ekpetiama Kingdom, expressed satisfaction with the younger ones for seeking knowledge and wisdom from the wise.
He stressed that the kingdom is an as old one, which existed before slave trade, palm oil trade, and groundnut trading among others.
The monarch explained that Mongo Park, and Lord Frederick Lugard, all passed and visited the kingdom, a development that exposed his subjects early to foreign languages, The Trumpet gathered.
He appealed to young people to embrace education, and also devote their time to learning something new every day of their lives.
While urging young people to always maximise their time, in all they do as well as be orderly in their youthful age, Dakolo, asked them to always take serious issues concerning oil and gas as well as the environment.
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According to him, oil deposits are supposed to be a blessing but unmitigated pollution has left a bitter experience. He challenged them to study and provide a solution to the challenges posed by oil and gas exploration and production.
He said that young people must always endeavour to ask questions to be better than those old men, who never bother to ask questions about their environment.
The monarch who is also Chairman, Bayelsa Traditional Rulers Council, urged the youths to always have a purpose on what they want to study in school, and discuss with their parents before obtaining their JAMB forms.
In his remarks, a renowned Environmentalist and the Director of HOMEF, Dr Nnimmo Bassey said the visit was to tap wisdom from the wise as well as enlighten the young scholars.
“We came with young people because education is a very strong tool for the growth of young people.
“We are here to learn from the wise on things that are of natural value to human nature, things like climate change, amongst others.
“Also to get the right knowledge, not the wrong one, but the one that will take young people far in life,” he said.
Bassey noted that things are changing rapidly in the world today, so many people are seeking knowledge and information from the media.
He also commended the King, for his emergence as the Chairman, Bayelsa State Traditional Rulers Council.
Bassey observed that Dakolo was endowed with all the leadership qualities to transform and uplift the traditional institution in Bayelsa.