Group set to organize talent hunt programme in Rivers state
By Barth Ndubuwah, Port Harcourt
All is now set for a talent hunt programme, tagged ‘Rivers Got Talent’ in Rivers State to discover and harness budding talents in various crafts in the youths across the 23 local government areas of the State.
Briefing journalists Thursday at Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) Press Centre, in Port Harcourt, the President/CEO of Mumagee Foundation, a subsidiary of Mgee Empire Global Limited, High Chief (Dr) Muma Gift Eke said the project is meant to eradicate poverty, insecurity,terrorism and other social vices among the youths.
“Rivers Got Talent’ is a human capacity development project/programme aimed at the eradication of poverty, insecurity,terrorism social vices etc, by harnessing and grooming the youths in Rivers State into enterpreneuship for the attainment of self-reliance for sustainable development,” Chief Eke said.
According to her, Mumagee Foundation, as a Non Governmental Organisation (NGO) is poised to harnessing raw talents from the age bracket of 13 years and above across the 23 LGAs of Rivers State with at least 52 persons per LGA, amounting to not less than 1,196 youths for the programme or scheme.
She said having come from a poor background,she understands what poverty is and therefore is ready to tackle it headlong with this signature project, banking on the collaboration of the media and other public spirited individuals, the sky shall be their limit.
The CEO lamented that our youths have been abandoned and allowed to wallow in poverty,but expressing confidence that all hope is not lost.
“The level of frustrations from our society, churches and other groups is enough to make the youths misbehave. But we thank God that we are still sane.Today the leaders of tomorrow are being disenfranchised. So what are our chances to succeed,”the President asked.
Gift Eke was emphatic that funding, though a big challenge will not constitute a major obstacle,since according to her,she has mastered the methodology of empowerment overtime, having been in the arena for a long time now.
She assured the people and ‘would-be- beneficiaries’ that their frustrations from the society are over,hence the need for them to embrace the ‘Rivers Got Talent’ programme to better their lots.
The President stressed that she is challenged to alleviate the sufferings of the youths through the ‘Rivers Got Talent’ scheme,pointing out that the vision of empowering the youths is a task that must be done.
“Please let us try and help our youths succeed. So African Talent Pool is a strategic plan to harness the talents of the youths. Even though life is never balanced,we are using the Foundation to redirect/reposition the young ones,”Gift said.
Reacting to how the programme can reach the rural areas, the Group President said she is naturally a rural person and can even use town criers to disseminate the gospel of ‘Rivers Got Talent’ project at the hinterlannds.
She tasked the media to use their power to reach the government on this lofty programme,noting that it is a win-win deal.