THE EXECUTIVE SECRETARY (EDTF) PRESENTS KEY NOTE ADDRESS ON THE THIRD YEAR ANNIVERSARY OF CHIEF LAWSON AYAKOROMA EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATION
The Executive Secretary, Bayelsa State Education Development Trust Fund (EDTF), professor Ebimieowei Etebu has emphasized the need for Government Agencies, Non Government Organisations and Community leaders to work in synergy to empower the next generation to contribute to the development of the State and the society. Delivering a key note remarks on the 24th. December, 2025, with the Theme: Celebrating Excellence and Empowering the Next Generation, on the third anniversary of the Lawson Ayakoroma Educational Foundation at the Lady Diana Event Centre, Osiri road, Ekeki in Yenagoa, the Executive Secretary explained that, it is an error to perceive empowerment only from the aspect of money stating that, these perceptions was responsible for the failure of some world intended educational programmes.
According to him, the genuine and efficient ways to empower the people is through the provision of skills and innovations, tools and the opportunity for self development. He noted that, through the vision and passion for education, Governor Douye Diri conceived the idea to establish the Science and Technical Colleges across the Eight LGAs of the State to create an enabling environment for youths to acquire the needed skills to improve themselves as well as to solve problems in the society. The Executive Secretary explained that, the EDTF overtime, has intervened in some critical areas in the educational sector particularly, the feeding of over 2000 student daily. He assured the EDTF willingness to take more responsibility in other areas in line with its mandate including the newly established Government Science and Technical Colleges in the State. Professor Etebu frowned at the attitude of some youths who sell off their empowerment kits provided for them after their training programmes, hoping to benefit from subsequent opportunities by creating an entitlement mentality.
He called on the youths to be steadfast and submit to strategic mentorship, education, and skill development, as well as create opportunity and resource accessibility, which are primary ways for empowering the next generation.
The Executive Secretary used the opportunity to call for genuine collaboration of Government Agencies, Community leaders, Individuals and NGOs to work in harmony towards providing platforms for the selection of youths for empowerment, assessing the opportunities and their strength and weaknesses as a yardstick to empower the next generation; it will tremendously benefit the State and the society.
Also speaking, the Vice Chancellor of Niger Delta University (NDU), Amassoma, Professor Allen Agih lauded the Lawson Ayakoroma Educational Foundation for supporting the students financially and called for more support to improve the standard of education in Bayelsa State.
In their separate goodwill remarks, Professor Barclays Ayakoroma, Prof. Paulley Febainmine, Prof. Philip Okolo and the Executive Secretary, Students Loans Board, Dr. Michael Amagberi, commended the brilliant gesture of Chief Lawson Ayakoroma Educational Foundation and urged more Bayelsans to join hands to support the teeming youths to acquire the best of education to make a significant impact in the society.
In his remarks, the founder of the Educational Foundation, Chief Lawson Ayakoroma said, it is his desire to get academically vibrant youths out of stampede noting that, The era of arms struggle in the region is over stating that, knowledge struggle is the new deal as education the uniting factor of the World.
About 150 youths had benefitted from the Chief Lawson Ayakoroma Educational Foundation for the last three years
The beneficiaries appreciated the great gesture and efforts of the foundation and prayed God to bless the benefactor