By Sandra Kenneth
The Senator representing Rivers West Senatorial District, Dr. Ipalibo Harry-Banigo, has admonished Nigerian youths to shift away from persistent complaints and instead actively drive the advancement of their local communities and the broader society.
Harry-Banigo gave the charge at Obuama Community in Degema Local Government Area of Rivers State during the graduation ceremony of 140 youths who successfully completed an intensive training program in the installation and maintenance of lithium-ion-based solar streetlights. The youth empowerment initiative was organized by the Senator’s office and facilitated by Bilview Energy Limited.
Addressing the beneficiaries, the former Deputy Governor and current Chairperson of the Senate Committee on Health expressed confidence that the technical expertise acquired by the youths would yield meaningful grassroots development. She emphasized that the country has entered a phase where youth-led solutions, rather than complaints, are required to complement government efforts.
“It is no longer a time for youths to complain about everything,” Harry-Banigo remarked, urging the graduates to use their new skills to improve their immediate environments. She also commended President Bola Tinubu and the President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio, for creating an enabling environment that encourages targeted vocational training across the country.
The facilitator of the project and Chief Executive Officer of Bilview Energy Limited, Prince Billy Gillis-Harry, stated that the specialized training would empower the participants to structurally alter the development trajectory of their respective communities.
Gillis-Harry lauded the youths of the area for their peaceful conduct throughout the training period, noting that their cooperation reflects a strong community appetite for sustainable empowerment. He added that the execution of the program was made possible through the direct approval of President Tinubu.
Also speaking, Cynthia Ejifoma, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the technical firm that conducted the sessions, described the Lithium-Ion Battery Solar Streetlight Installation Training Programme as an exceptional journey that successfully transformed theoretical knowledge into viable, practical skills for the local economy.
