The Bayelsa State Government has launched a N10 billion youth empowerment and skills development programme that it says will train 50,000 young people in vocational, digital, and entrepreneurship skills over the next 18 months, in what analysts widely interpret as a pre-election investment ahead of the 2027 governorship race.
Governor Douye Diri announced the programme at a ceremony in Yenagoa attended by thousands of young people, describing it as the largest youth investment in the history of the state and a demonstration of his administration commitment to building an economy that works for ordinary Bayelsans.
The programme will operate through six new Skills Acquisition Centres to be built across the state state six senatorial districts, offering courses in boat engine repair, solar panel installation, aquaculture, coding, digital marketing, fashion design, and catering.
Opposition politicians have questioned the timing of the announcement, noting that the state faces a significant pension backlog and outstanding contractor debts, and suggesting that the N10 billion would be better deployed to clear existing obligations than to launch a new programme.
Youth organisations in Bayelsa have given the announcement a cautious welcome, with the Bayelsa Youth Council asking that implementation oversight be given to an independent committee rather than political appointees, to ensure the programme avoids the fate of similar initiatives that have been used primarily as campaign tools in the past.
