President of the Niger Delta Youth Network (NDYN), Scott Ogunseri, has urged youths across the Niger Delta to remain focused, disciplined, and committed to development.

Speaking at a news conference on Wednesday in Abuja to commemorate the 2026 International Youth Day, Mr Ogunseri said the occasion served as a reminder for young people to realise their potential.

He noted that youths should not only be seen as the leaders of tomorrow but also as partners in development and leaders of today across the Niger Delta.

He called on Niger Delta youths to reject criminality, including oil bunkering and drug abuse, warning that such activities could destroy their future and undermine development.

According to him, young people must embrace education, acquire skills, build capacity, adopt technology, engage in entrepreneurship and support one another to become productive members.

Mr Ogunseri urged them to remain peace-loving and serve as positive ambassadors of the Niger Delta, stressing that their choices, character and actions would shape development.

The NDYN president appealed to governments, institutions and stakeholders to invest more in young people by creating opportunities, listening to concerns and including them in decision-making processes.

He said the Niger Delta was blessed with talented and courageous youths whose potential must be protected, developed, and channelled into productive ventures for regional prosperity.

He reaffirmed NDYN’s commitment to youth empowerment, capacity building, education, leadership development, and entrepreneurship, while promoting innovation and meaningful youth participation across the Niger Delta.

He commended Tantita Security Services, the Presidential Amnesty Programme, the NDDC, the Ministry of Regional Planning, Niger Delta governors, the federal government, NGOs, and other stakeholders for supporting youth development initiatives.

Mr Ogunseri called for expanded empowerment programmes and stronger partnerships to equip youths with the skills needed for sustainable livelihoods and enable them to contribute meaningfully to society

“The future of the Niger Delta rests on choices we make today. Our youths must choose education over crime, innovation over destruction, and unity over division.

“We are ready to work with stakeholders to build a region where young people can thrive through skills, entrepreneurship and peace. No youth should be left behind,” he said.

The NDYN president congratulated youths on International Youth Day 2026 and prayed for continued peace, progress and development across the Niger Delta and Nigeria.

The high point of the event was the unveiling of NDYN’s 1,000 Youth CEOs Initiative, aimed at building 1,000 Niger Delta CEOs in 2026.

The project, with the theme, “From Ideas to Enterprises: Empowering the Next Generation of Niger Delta CEOs,” is designed to equip youths with skills and opportunities.

(NAN)