By Peter Adelowo
A strong call for a new national development blueprint for the Niger Delta echoed in Abuja as former President Goodluck Jonathan, former SDP Presidential Candidate Prince Adewole Adebayo, and legal icon Prof. Mike Ozekhome urged government and stakeholders to rethink the region’s future.
Represented by his former Chief of Staff, Dr. Mike Ogiadomhe, former President Jonathan said Nigeria must stop allowing the Niger Delta to remain burdened by neglect, environmental damage, and policy inconsistency.
He said development cannot take root where instability persists, stressing the need for stronger institutions, better infrastructure, and sustained investment in youth, education, and technology.
Chief Launcher, Prince Adewole Adebayo, declared that Nigeria has no justification to be poor, insisting that the country is richly endowed but poorly managed.
He described the Niger Delta as the backbone of Nigeria’s economic relevance for more than a century, warning that the nation cannot progress if leaders continue to overlook its “hidden treasures.”
Delivering the keynote address on behalf of Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Prof. Mike Ozekhome, the Vice Chancellor of the Federal University of Petroleum Resources, Prof. Ezekiel Abalaba, said Nigeria’s future depends on innovation, environmental justice, and inclusive economic reforms.
He said the book being unveiled—The Hidden Treasures by Deacon Chris Iyowaye—should guide policymakers toward digital transformation, better security architecture, and equitable development.
Chairman of the occasion, former Minister of Foreign Affairs, Major General Ike Nwachukwu (Rtd), urged Nigerians to move beyond complaints and actively participate in rebuilding the nation, warning that “countries are not rebuilt by spectators.”
Meanwhile, author Deacon Chris Iyowaye said the book is the product of nearly two decades of research and reveals that the Niger Delta holds far more value than crude oil.
He said proceeds from the book will support clean water projects, women’s agricultural training, and youth leadership development.
