Source: Leadership (Abuja)
Minister of Niger Delta, Elder Godsday Orubebe, has said that the ministry is committed to youth development and women empowerment as a panacea to sustainable peace in the Niger Delta region.

Speaking in Abuja during a summit for women civic re-orientation and empowerment, the minister said the summit aims to further promote peace and engender conflict resolution so as to create enabling environment for wealth and entrepreneurial development for women in particular and the region in general.

Represented by the minister of state in the ministry, Orubebe said, "The intention is to ensure that women are not relegated to the background in our efforts at empowering the people of this area following the conducive atmosphere created by the amnesty programme and the transformation agenda of President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan.

"The creation of a ministry to handle the development of the Niger Delta region in particular, is a deliberate attempt by government to focus on the myriad of problems ranging from environmental degradation to unemployment and poverty in the region which are especially faced by the women in the region.

"Our belief and conviction is that regular dialogue and interaction are keys to open minds and souls in our efforts to establish common grounds and platforms for sustainable and peaceful development of the Niger Delta region."

Orubebe said the ministry places high premium on youths and women empowerment and has achieved this through the development of skills acquisition centres.

He further stated that the federal government has been able to win the confidence of major stakeholders in the Niger Delta and this has greatly reduced militancy and youth restiveness which has subsequently led to uninterrupted oil production, thereby increasing the nation's revenue

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