Following the viral TVC broadcast regarding the establishment of an Internally Displaced Persons camp at Open University Nsu Center, the Ohanaeze Youth Council (OYC), the premier socio-cultural youth organization of Ndigbo, initiated a comprehensive inquiry and investigation into the visit of the Federal Commissioner for Refugees, Migrants, and Internally Displaced Persons, accompanied by former distinguished Senator of Imo North, Sen. Frank Ibezim, to the National Open University, Nsu Center in Ehime Mbano, aimed at evaluating the facilities for the commencement of skill acquisition training for internally displaced persons in the South-East.
As part of its ongoing inquiry and investigation, the Ohanaeze Youth Council (OYC) established communication with Senator Frank Ibezim, who spearheaded the federal government’s team at the National Open University’s Nsu Center Study Center.
During an extensive discussion exceeding one hour, Senator Frank Ibezim clarified that the imagery utilized by TVC regarding their visit was misinterpreted by well-intentioned and concerned Igbo individuals.
Senator Frank Ibezim pointed out that the initiative is tailored for Igbo youths in the Southeast region who are in need of constructive activities and are particularly susceptible to addiction, especially regarding the consumption of harmful substances roaming in village without basic means of livelihood to embrace further skill in agricultural training. Nigeria’s food scarcity and high agricultural product costs will be mitigated by youths trained at Open University Nsu Center’s special skills program, ending Alaigbo’s prolonged reliance on Northern Nigeria’s agricultural supplies.
Evidently, the Ohanaeze Youth Council (OYC) has previously requested the establishment of a rehabilitation center for Igbo youths struggling with drug abuse in various villages, providing comprehensive rehabilitation and training in diverse skills.
The visit of the Federal Commissioner of Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons to Open University Nsu Center, as revealed by Senator Frank Ibezim’s statement, demonstrates a genuine commitment to empowering Ndigbo, especially Igbo youth, through skill training provided by the agency.
Similar to the advocacy for the SouthEast Development Commission following the establishment of the Niger Delta Development Commission and Northeast Development Commission, the Open University Nsu Center, the Federal Commissioner of Refugees, Migrants, and Internally Displaced Persons aims to utilize the facilities as proposed by Sen. Frank Ibezim, arguing that idle youths in the SouthEast can benefit from the agency’s programs through training and rehabilitation of Igbo youths engaged in drug abuse.
Senator Frank Ibezim’s strategy sought to tap into federal government funding through the Federal Commissioner of Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons and the Presidential Adviser on Humanitarian Affairs, with the goal of replicating successful initiatives from other geopolitical zones in the Southeast, focusing on skills training for Igbo youth to foster economic independence.
Undoubtedly, the TVC broadcast negatively influenced Igbos’ perceptions of the visit by the Federal Commissioner of Refugees, Migrants, and Internally Displaced Persons and the President’s Special Adviser on Humanitarian Affairs to the National Open University Nsu Center in Ehime Mbano.
Based on our engagement with Sen. Frank Ibezim and further research, the Ohanaeze Youth Council, supported by the Federal Commissioner of Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons and the Presidential Special Adviser on Humanitarian Affairs, confirms the facilities’ fitness for the program, given their clarity and sincerity.
Senator Frank Ibezim assures the full participation of community youth leaders and town union presidents in recruiting Igbo youth from diverse Southeast communities for training programs.
Given the skepticism of our people, the Ohanaeze Youth Council (OYC) shall form a specialized Monitoring and Surveillance Committee, drawn from youth and elders across Nsu clan villages and surrounding Ehime Mbano communities, to monitor the establishment of the Skill Acquisitions Training Center and prevent potential deviations from its intended purpose.
The Special Monitoring Surveillance Committee shall work in tandem with the Skill Acquisitions Training Center management and Federal Commissioner of Refugees , Migrants and internally Displaced Persons and Special adviser to President on Humanitarian Affairs team until Ndigbo secures independence, given the loss of confidence in the Nigerian Government. The committee’s duties include monitoring recruitment processes and periodic supervision of training center intakes.
We extended our consultation, inquiry investigation concerning the visit of Federal Commissioner of Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons through notable core non-Political stakeholders and Core/Pro- Igbo elder Statesmen and they confirmed that instituting the Skill Acquisitions training Center at National Open University Nsu Center has nothing to do with Internally Displaced Persons from Northern Nigeria, but strictly targeted for empowering only Igbo youths through Skill.
We wish to reassure the resilient Igbo people that our initial statement aimed to clarify the purpose and utilization of Nsu’s facilities, and we reiterate our unwavering commitment to safeguarding Alaigbo and Ndigbo against external threats without hesitation.
We recognize Sen. Frank Ibezim and Hon. Emeka Nwajuba’s viewpoints on Igbo Youth and emphasize the importance of sensitivity regarding the potential use of Open University Nsu Center facilities for training internally displaced persons/ idle Youths strictly from Southeastern Nigeria, given the risk of escalating ethnic tensions in Nigeria if any other tribe is allowed to be trained in the facility.
We confidently reassure Ndigbo that the Ohanaeze Youth Council will maintain vigilant oversight of this project through to its ultimate resolution.
Signed
Comrade Igboayaka O Igboayaka
National President Ohanaeze Youth Council OYC
Comrade Ifeanyichukwu Cedric Nweke
Secretary General
30th September 2024
