Youths in Badagry Local Government Area of Lagos state on Monday 3rd February held a pre-conference meeting to set the stage for the very first edition of Badagry Youth Oil and Gas Conference with the theme; Youth Engagement in Oil and Gas Producing Areas as a Panacea to Community Development which comes up on Thursday 6th and Friday 7th of February, 2020 at the Administrative Staff College of Nigeria (ASCON) Topo, Badagry.
Dr Olanrewaju Onola, the Youth Leader of Lagos State Oil & Gas Producing Areas Community Relations Committee and Chairman Youth subcommittee stated that the pre-conference meeting is sacrosanct to the success of the conference.
While addressing representatives of the various youth groups in Badagry Local Government, Badagry West and Olorunda Local Council Development Areas during the meeting the youth Leader said the need to engage the state government through the proposed conference is crucial to all stakeholders for the avoidance of conflicts and socioeconomic underdevelopment in the community.
Dr Onola gave kudos to the Lagos State Government and Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources under the administration of Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu for opening door of conversation.
“Badagry in the engagement and conversation in the extractive industry is minimal; hence it is absolutely necessary for us to start the proper conversation so that we can get it right.
Badagry oil and gas youth conference sponsored by the government of Lagos state is the commencement of proper conversation to educate and open our minds to greater opportunities available to our youths and community from the state government and the extractive companies operating under our jurisdiction”.
Seasoned speakers from private, public and political sectors are expected to deliver papers and would also be involved in the interactive discussion with the following sub-themes:-
(1) Youth Engagement and Community Development in an Oil and Gas Producing Areas.
(2)Wealth Creation and Youth Engagement
i) Access to Lagos State Trust Fund (ii) Benefits from Lagos State
(3) The role of government (Lagos state) as an interface between Host Communities and the extractive companies
(4) Infrastructural development in Badagry in line with THEMES agenda
(5) The role of the extractive companies in the Host Communities
(6) Youth Empowerment program by the Oil and Gas Company
(7) Badagry Youth reactions
He said, “it is believed that the conversation will start and continues for the purpose of achieving greater development strides for our community and bring about peaceful coexistence between our community, Lagos State Government and the extractive companies”.
Speaking with youths in the community on the coming Conference, while some applauded the state government others felts there is need for wider consultation on the part of the youth.
Zannu Joseph, a Realtor, said the conference will bring government closer to the people which is an avenue for Badagry youth to dialogue with the government.
“The environmental challenges associated with crude oil should be adequately taken care of considering the fact that a good number of people here are fishermen and farmers.
Youths need to be fully engaged so as not to become militant; hence the conference should not be one-off”.
“There should be gender equality in every program of both the government and the extractive companies. While infrastructural development of communities should not be negotiated for anything less”
According to Comrade Sewanu Michael, an Activist, “the coming oil and gas conference is a blessing in disguise with a little contrast to the original intentions of the indigenous people who designed it, now, the host community has become alienated to the main ideas, aims, objectives and achievable goals of the conference.
Is the government ready to make available infrastructures that can enhance the lives of our people? How many of our graduates will be employed by the oil companies and how many scholarships will they give to the youth? All these among other questions should be answered during the conference” he said.
Arch. Miyise Fasinu commends the conference but was quick to add that more needs to be done by the youths.
“The idea of a conference is commendable but I feel on the part of the youths there are more to be done, the right indigents hands have not been consulted or carried along, there is need for a review.
A platform should be created to enable those that majored in the oil fields and worked in the Niger Delta areas including environmentalists and resource professionals, safety officers and so on can contribute their knowledge and wealth of experience”.
