PRESS RELEASE

U.S. Envoy Responds to Requests from Bayelsa on Youth Development Needs and Training

Yenogoa, Bayelsa,
September 27, 2008

As part of the U.S. Mission to Nigeria's policy thrust on youth development and conflict resolution, and in response to requests from the Delta Region, U.S. Ambassador Robin Reneée Sanders led a five-person U.S. Government interagency team to Bayelsa State on Saturday, September 27.  The visit is an initial step towards a pilot program that would include vocational training, education, agriculture and other community-related projects.  This is the first in a series of pilot programs the Ambassador plans to offer to other states in the Delta Region if asked to do so.

While in Yenagoa, Ambassador Sanders said, "Bringing a U.S. Government team for the first time to the State at the invitation of the Governor of Bayelsa State shows the commitment of the American people to working with the federal, state and local governments, and community and traditional leaders to address issues of mutual concern in the Niger Delta, particularly job skills for youth and due process issues. We hope this will be the first of many programs in the Delta Region.  I thank the government of Bayelsa State and its community leaders for inviting us to discuss ways to work on the needs that the people of Bayelsa State have identified as most important, such as youth and community development."