By Ewere Okonta
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It was an evening of deep reflection and intellectual stimulation on News Around Ika, the flagship programme hosted by Ewere Okonta, which has gradually evolved into a citadel of ideas, a forum where the brightest minds in Ika land dissect issues that shape the destiny of the region. The latest episode, themed “Repositioning Ika Youths for Global Relevance,” lived up to its billing as it featured one of the most cerebral and dynamic sons of Ika land, Prof. Hilary Owamah, Deputy Vice Chancellor of Delta State University, Abraka.
Prof. Owamah, who is widely celebrated as one of the youngest Deputy Vice Chancellors in Nigeria, is not just a scholar of repute in Civil and Environmental Engineering, but a passionate youth advocate, policy thinker, and community development strategist. His calm intellect, combined with deep conviction and practical wisdom, gave the conversation both depth and direction.
Speaking on the theme, Prof. Owamah argued that the first step to repositioning Ika youths is a total mental re-engineering. According to him, “Our youths must recalibrate their thinking pattern. Before you can compete globally, you must first learn to think globally. Every transformation begins from the mind. If the mindset is narrow, the horizon will remain limited.”
He lamented the growing disconnect between education, entrepreneurship, and personal vision among young people. In his words, “We must begin to ask the right questions: What exactly do our youths want? How do we locate their potentials? How do we help them channel their energy into productive ventures? It is not enough to talk about youth empowerment in abstract terms, we need a system that connects knowledge with practice.”
The erudite professor emphasized that while entrepreneurship remains a major key to financial freedom, it cannot substitute the power of education. “Entrepreneurship can make you rich,” he said, “but it can never take away the place of education. Education provides structure, discipline, and sustainability. Without education, even the most brilliant business ideas can crumble under poor management.”
He called for a deliberate effort to blend education with entrepreneurship, describing the two as “twin pillars of sustainable development.” He explained that education gives the intellectual stamina to manage success, while entrepreneurship teaches resilience and creativity in solving real-world problems.
On how the Ika Peoples Congress (IPC) can take a more proactive role in youth development, Prof. Owamah recommended the creation of a youth-centered welfare and empowerment committee under the IPC, with a minimum of two million naira revolving fund. The fund, he said, should be dedicated to supporting the education of less-privileged Ika youths and establishing microbusinesses for them.
He further suggested that the IPC institutionalize an annual Youth Education and Empowerment Conference, bringing together educators, entrepreneurs, technologists, and mentors to engage and inspire Ika youths. “We need a continuous platform where young people can interact with those who have walked the path before them. Mentorship is the missing link in many success stories,” he said.
Beyond financial empowerment, Prof. Owamah stressed the importance of value reorientation and moral education. “We must teach our youths civic responsibility, honesty, and the dignity of labour. It’s not enough to have certificates; we need character, integrity, and a sense of community. These are the values that make global citizens,” he noted passionately.
Touching on technology, Prof. Owamah observed that the world has entered an era where digital competence defines competitiveness. He encouraged Ika youths to leverage opportunities in digital entrepreneurship, online learning, and global collaboration platforms. “You can be in Agbor and still work for companies in the United States or Dubai if you have the right digital skills. The world is no longer defined by geography but by connectivity,” he said.
He also commended the Ika Peoples Congress (IPC), led by Mr. Williams Eghebi, for creating a platform that fosters intellectual exchange and community development, urging the leadership to maintain its non-partisan posture and focus on grooming a new generation of visionary Ika leaders.
In wrapping up the engaging session, Prof. Owamah’s message echoed loudly; Ika youths must be prepared to think globally, act locally, and live purposefully. “The journey to global relevance starts with local excellence,” he said. “Education, entrepreneurship, mentorship, and technology are the four engines that will drive the Ika youth to the world stage.”
The News Around Ika programme has, over time, become a think tank for the Ika nation, bringing together academics, policymakers, business leaders, and youth voices to discuss issues of education, governance, technology, and human development. It continues to set the agenda for conversations that matter; conversations that redefine how Ika people see themselves and their future.
As the discussion drew to a close, one thing became crystal clear; the Ika youth is not short of talent, but needs redirection, mentorship, and the right environment to thrive. And if the words of Prof. Owamah are anything to go by, the pathway to global relevance is already being drawn: “Educate the mind, engage the hands, empower the heart – and the Ika youth will rise.”
– Ewere Okonta is the CEO of EOB Media. He is a member of Ika Peoples Congress (IPC). He writes from the Department of Business Administration, University of Delta, Agbor.*
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