R-L: Deacon Chris Iyovwaye,(6th) flanked by others at the meeting on Thursday
By Samuel Ogude
Ahead of the 2027 governorship election in Delta State, the governorship candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Deacon Chris Iyovwaye, has pledged to harness the state’s vast untapped natural and human resources to improve the living standards of Deltans if elected.
Iyovwaye made the pledge on Thursday during the Delta State Professionals Mega Town Hall Meeting themed: “Resetting Delta: The Role of Professionals and Labour Beyond Vision 2027,” held at Monarchy Event Centre, Effurun, in Uvwie Local Government Area.
He lamented that despite Delta State’s abundant natural resources, many residents continue to live in poverty due to successive administrations’ failure to fully utilise the state’s economic potential. According to him, his administration would prioritise agriculture, energy, education, healthcare, industrialisation, security and job creation to stimulate economic growth and improve the welfare of the people.
Deacon Chris Iyovwaye, addressing members of different professional bodies on Thursday at the event
“When we say we want to industrialise Delta, it is not rocket science. It is achievable,” he said. Iyovwaye stressed that his government would work closely with professionals across various sectors to ensure that competent and qualified individuals are appointed into key positions, including commissioners and heads of government agencies. Speaking on agriculture, he noted that Delta State possesses vast arable land capable of supporting large-scale agricultural production but regretted that much of it remains underutilised.
He said his administration would invest heavily in cassava production and other agricultural value chains to boost internally generated revenue and create employment opportunities. The NDC candidate also highlighted the state’s enormous solid mineral deposits, including silicon and clay used for ceramics, describing them as largely untapped economic assets capable of generating substantial revenue.
L-R: Deacon Chris Iyovwaye,(2nd) flanked by others at the meeting on Thursday
“Delta is blessed with numerous mineral resources scattered across the state. Many people are unaware of their existence, let alone their economic value. Proper exploration of these resources can generate millions of dollars and significantly increase the state’s internally generated revenue,” he stated.
On the energy sector, Iyovwaye said industrialisation cannot thrive without reliable electricity, promising to develop the sector by harnessing the abundant natural gas currently being flared by oil companies for power generation. He also pledged to revitalise the education sector, describing education as the foundation of sustainable development.
Members of different professional bodies seated and listening with rapt attention at the meeting on Thursday
According to him, his administration would establish industries that would provide employment opportunities for young people and reduce social vices, including internet fraud popularly known as “Yahoo Yahoo.” In the health sector, he promised to improve healthcare infrastructure and services to ensure residents have access to quality medical care. On security, Iyovwaye said his administration would strengthen security across the state to enable farmers, many of whom have abandoned their farms due to attacks by suspected armed herders, to return to their farmlands without fear.
Earlier in his keynote address, a lecturer at Niger Delta University, Dr. Ebipuade Sapae-Obi, attributed Nigeria’s developmental challenges to poor leadership rather than a lack of resources. According to him, the country’s progress has been hindered by political leaders who fail to faithfully implement policies and programmes after assuming office.
Members of different professional bodies seated and listening with rapt attention at the meeting on Thursday
He urged Nigerians to support credible and visionary leaders capable of steering the country towards sustainable development and lifting citizens out of poverty. Dr. Sapae-Obi also commended Iyovwaye for offering himself for public service and expressed appreciation to the NDC campaign organisation and other stakeholders for organising the town hall meeting.
The event featured an interactive question-and-answer session during which professionals from various sectors, including the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) and other professional bodies, engaged the NDC governorship candidate on his plans and policy proposals for Delta State.