The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) is partnering with the Funky Four Foundation (FFF), a non-governmental organization, to start an advocacy program called “Change The Tide.” This effort aims to educate undergraduates in universities around the Niger Delta region on the need of developing talents and abilities for self-sufficiency both during and after their academic careers.
Dr. Michael Adagogo Ogolo, the Director of Operations for the Funky Four Foundation, expressed the foundation’s commitment to encouraging youths to identify and nurture their individual talents while still in university. The overarching goal is to equip students with the skills necessary for self-employment, creating a pathway to economic independence and reducing the reliance on traditional white-collar jobs, which may be scarce due to the prevailing high unemployment rates.
Ogolo highlighted the importance of the “Change The Tide” Initiative, noting, “The idea is to encourage undergraduates not to underestimate their talents, as many of them are highly gifted in areas such as music, acting, comedy, and the creative economy.” The creative economy, as explained by Ogolo, involves utilizing one’s God-given talents to sustain oneself and, in turn, contribute to employment generation.
Drawing from personal experiences, Ogolo emphasized the transformative power of mastering a skill while still in university. He cited examples within the Funky Four Foundation, where individuals utilized their talents in music, drama, and comedy to self-fund their education, support their families, and create job opportunities for others. The underlying message is the potential for talent development to evolve into entrepreneurship, allowing individuals to become self-employed and subsequently contribute to job creation in the Niger Delta region.
Ogolo urged students to recognize that developing their talents into skills could lead to a future of self-employment, emphasizing, “Those talented in skills already have jobs. All they need to do is develop, nurture them to build houses, create jobs for the Niger Delta region, get married, build families, and live normal lives.”
