A former Chairman of Obio/Akpor Local Government Area has described March 16, 2023, as a painful reminder for thousands of young people in Rivers State who were left disappointed by an unfulfilled promise of mass employment in the state civil service.
In a statement, the former council chairman recalled that on March 16, 2023, hopes were raised when the National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN) under his leadership hosted the former Governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike.
According to him, the former governor—now Minister of the Federal Capital Territory—publicly announced plans to recruit 10,000 youths into the Rivers State Civil Service, a declaration that generated widespread excitement and expectations among unemployed youths across the state.
He noted that despite the assurances, the promise never translated into action, as no transparent or verifiable recruitment process was initiated or concluded. Nearly two years later, many youths who anticipated the exercise remain without jobs, with no official explanation on the fate of the proposed recruitment.
The former Obio/Akpor chairman stated that what was presented as a major employment opportunity ultimately became an unfulfilled assurance, leaving many young people feeling misled and disillusioned.
He added that the incident has continued to fuel frustration among Rivers youths and has become a reference point in discussions around accountability and youth empowerment in the state.
