Youth Group Evaluates MDGs Projects in Delta State

*scores state MDGs project low, identifies challenges, prospect and opportunities.

* Vows to continuously monitor past and future MDGs Projects in the state.

The leadership of the Delta State chapter of the league of patriotic and progressive youth, aka young patriots at a recent press briefing on the assessment and impact of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) in Delta State made public their concerns, regrets, pains and progressive response in the near future.

Comrade Okonta Emeka Okelum, the Delta State Coordinator of the group told newsmen, that, in order to address the problems of poverty and promote sustainable development, the eight millennium goals were adopted in September 2000 at the largest gathering of heads of states committed both rich and poor nations to do all they can to eradicate poverty, promote human dignity/equality, achieve peace; democracy and environmental stability.

The MDGs, her  related 18 targets and 48 indicators serve as benchmarks of progress towards the shared vision of where we want to go and commitment to work together to get there by 2015, Comrade Okonta emphasized.

Young Patriots-Delta State Chapter believes that thirteen years since year 2000 millennium summit, it seems all efforts by stakeholders towards achieving MDGs by 2015 is fleeting into hopelessness.

Though Delta State has recorded some micro progress in attainment of few MDGs targets, Delta State is visibly on a speedy journey at falling short in the overall attainment of most MDGs targets.

Comrade Okonta Emeka informed journalists that the consequence of these shortfalls were further aggravated by the combined effects of the recent flooding the state suffered, which heightened food insecurity, increased effect of climate change, insufficient power supply for nano, micro and small scale entrepreneurs, as well as rampant recorded cases of insecurity, kidnapping, armed  bandits, robbery and community clashes, which to some great extent is challenging grassroot oriented development framework of action as envisioned in year 2000, the worst is that improvement in the lives of poorest Deltans are happening at an unacceptable slow pace.

The league is of the opinion that Delta State will lose all her grip at any possible dream of achieving the MDGs in the face of bad leadership, hunger, starvation, preventable diseases, corruption, moral decadence, communal clashes and anti poor people political policies and programs.

At the current pace in the state, most of the MDGs related targets are likely never going to be attained, Deltans are suffering amidst plenty as we have enough or more than enough human, environmental and material resources to permanently put an end to this regime of suffering in Delta State.

A greater percentage of Deltans are still living in poverty, our young population pass out from higher institutions without jobs thus turning some of them into emergency armed robbers and prison inmates, while many on daily basis led hopeless lives, Okonta points out.

The leadership of Young Patriots in Delta State has vowed never to leave any stone unturned with regards to constant and continuous monitoring and evaluation of all Federal Government’s sponsored MDGs projects in Delta State.

Our doors of partnership is open to all willing NGOs, media houses, grassroot youth/women groups and proactive opposition political parties, together we can synergize and maximize opportunities to effectively engage the system to see that the people’s fund work for the people, Comrade Okonta said.