Peace and environmental rights advocate Chief (Dr) Mulade Sheriff, has urged the Delta State Government to prioritize large-scale industrialization as the key to tackling soaring unemployment and deteriorating socio-economic conditions.
In a statement to journalists in Warri on Wednesday, Mulade highlighted the alarming youth unemployment rate, warning it poses a major security threat if unaddressed.
He praised Governor Sheriff Oborevwori for “remarkable achievements” in infrastructure like road construction across urban areas but emphasized that roads alone can’t solve poverty, hunger, and joblessness.
“These infrastructure gains are commendable, yet rising unemployment signals imminent security risks and demands immediate action. Without industrialization, poverty and hunger will only worsen,” Mulade stated. As Ibe-Sorimowei of the oil-rich Gbaramatu Kingdom in Warri South-West LGA, he called for reviving defunct industries, creating an investor-friendly environment, and leveraging Delta’s strategic location, natural resources, and human capital to become an industrial powerhouse.
Mulade advocated people-centered policies to support SMEs, boost private sector involvement, and build a robust industrial base for sustainable jobs, higher internal revenue, and economic stability.Aggressive industrialization, he argued, would slash unemployment and secure Delta’s future.