Bayelsa monarch mentors youths on purpose, environmental consciousness

Nathan Tamarapreye, Yenagoa

King Bubaraye Dakolo, of Gbarain Ekpetiama, in Yenagoa Local Government Area of Bayelsa State on Tuesday, began a mentorship programme to encourage youths to hard work and embrace environmental consciousness.

The mentorship programme is in collaboration with the Health of Mother Earth Foundation (HOMEF), an environmental right focused Non-Governmental Organisation.

The mentorship scheme involves selected youths drawn from oil-bearing communities across Bayelsa spending time interacting with Dakolo in his palace.

The aim, according to the organisers is to get youths to draw inspiration from the accomplishments of the monarch and seek wisdom from the wise and get prepared for leadership positions in the future.

Interacting with the youths, Dakolo, the Agada the IV, of Gbarain Ekpetiama Kingdom, expressed satisfaction over the young people seeking knowledge and wisdom from the wise.

He said that the kingdom is an old one, that existed before the slave trade, palm oil trade, and groundnut trading amongst others.

He 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 King appealed to young people to embrace education, and also devote their time to learning something new every day of their lives.

He urged young people to always maximise their time, in all they do as well as be orderly in their youthful age.

Dakolo, urged them to always take seriously whatever has to do with oil and gas, and the environment.

He noted that oil deposit is supposed to be a blessing but unmitigated pollution has left a bitter experience and 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 of the 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, Dr Nnimmo Bassey, a renowned Environmentalist and the Director, HOMEF said the visit is to tap wisdom from the wise, and 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 of 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.

CAPTION FOR ATTACHED PHOTO

King Bubraye Dakolo, reading from his book, the Riddle of the Oil Thief during the interaction with the youths.22/4/22