OGUNYEMI BANKOLE TAIWO - My Blog

Warri is a region in the Niger-Delta with a large accolade of views from National and international observers as a region of crises, oil-Vandalization, mis-management of Resources, Kidnapping, Militancy and every other big-bad names. At a particular time, I asked a friend to come for a visit in the region and volunteer to help use his wealth of experience build our organizational structure and to my amazement, he went online to get information about the region and gave me a call that he was no longer coming. Asking him why, he lamented that he does not want to get kidnapped, killed or maimed. Whoa, what news or information about warri will my friend have seen about the region which drew him back from making some cool cash from the consultancy job I offered him?
However, the region is one of the sustaining economy driving powers in Nigeria. With an accumulating intrusion of Oil companies rigging, drilling and selling the most economic gift of the state. The young people on the other hand are not happy with the disbursement of funds and underdevelopment of the region which is a responsibility of the stakeholders, government, local chief councils, international companies and lastly individuals. The region is left-for-dead as the young people have taken it upon themselves to fight for the Future.
The future of Warri as it is now lies in the hands of the Young people who are beginning to see the importance of development and Knowledge compared to the non-sustainable immediate financial provision. Various Human capacity institutions and outfits are beginning to locate the once-dreaded region even in the midst of the news one hears about the region. One will begin to wonder what such outfits see in such a place. The Airport road is quickly becoming like the ever busy and industrious Awolowo Road, ikoyi, Lagos and places such as Effurun round about now looks like the Eifel Tower.
For the few of us we believe that Warri would soon get rid of her big-bad names, we have pitched our tent geared towards Human capacity Development because we believe that advocacy is not by Militancy but By Knowledge. My organization (THE VISIONARIES ACADEMY) for example has poised herself towards rebranding the Warri-Youths. With programs such as Warri-Makeover, Warri Digital Village, Save The Green, The 1st Ever Summer Technology Camp in the State in partnership with Microsoft Nigeria and Paradigm Initiative Nigeria, Winter Innovation Program targeted at youths, we have registered up to 3000 change makers in the region. We started in April 2010 and till present, we remain crested on the Minds of the Young people of Warri who are demanding more of Youth development centered Outfits. We have trained so many Young people on Social Enterprise Development, ICT Development, Motivational Speaking and Writing skills Environmental Sustainability, in Partnership with Nigerian Youth Climate Coalition& BNRCC inaugurating Climate ambassador in Secondary Schools. Through our scheme, we have designed and hosted a Portal for the Warri south LGA and the Uvwie LGA (http://warrisouthlg.dl.gov.ng, http://uvwielg.org.ng) respectively. Most of our participants have become start-up entrepreneurs, Social Developers with testimonials from the Government, organizations and individuals.
Now, we have a projection that by 2012, warri will become a very mega-city of Sustainable Growth and Development. We by God’s grace will change the View of the local and International community and maybe one day, My dear Friend will have no reason whatsoever not to come to Warri- The Future mega City.

1. The Uvwie LGA Chairman poses with Team members of TVA 2. The Warri-South Chairman Poses with Team members of TVA