The Paul Ogoun Foundation on Friday celebrated its 4th anniversary and graduation ceremony with the successful completion of training by 500 youths, drawn from across different skill and entrepreneurial development programmes.
Speaking at the event held at the Emis Event Center, Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, the Founder and President of the Foundation, Prof. Amb. Capt. Paul Mandela Ogoun JP, PhD, described the occasion as a landmark moment in the organisation’s commitment to youth empowerment and sustainable development.
According to him, the 500 graduates benefitted from a two-pronged development approach of the Foundation.
He explained that hundreds of beneficiaries were empowered through its free skill acquisition programme, which equipped young people with practical vocational skills aimed at promoting self-reliance and economic independence.
He further disclosed that 20 outstanding youths completed a 12-week intensive entrepreneurial training programme at Edsea Business School / HIBC, after which they were admitted into the 200-level of West Midlands Open University to further build their capacity in business innovation and job creation.
Prof. Ogoun also highlighted the graduation of another 20 students from the Foundation’s Lagos branch on December 6, 2025, noting that the development marked a significant step in expanding the Foundation’s reach and impact across Nigeria.
Describing himself as a United Nations Peace Advocate, the Foundation’s president said its programmes are deliberately aligned with global development priorities, particularly the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals on poverty eradication, quality education, decent work, economic growth, peace and justice. He stressed that empowering young people with skills and opportunities remains a critical pathway to building peaceful, inclusive and resilient societies.
He revealed that since inception, the Foundation has trained over 2,000 individuals through its free skill acquisition initiatives, providing beneficiaries with starter packs, mentorship and follow-up support. He also announced plans to launch a Bayelsa Entrepreneurial Programme in 2026 to further expand access to skills and business opportunities for youths in the state.
At the event, Prof. Ogoun appealed for voluntary donations and strategic partnerships from government agencies, the Niger Delta Development Commission, local content operators and corporate organisations operating within the Niger Delta, stressing that sustained support would enable the Foundation to scale its programmes.
He commended members of the press for their role in amplifying the Foundation’s activities and urged the graduates to make effective use of the starter packs provided to them, warning against selling the equipment meant to serve as tools for their economic empowerment.
Congratulating the graduates, he encouraged them to deploy their newly acquired skills to promote peace, unity and sustainable development within their communities, reiterating that the Foundation remains guided by its core principle of “Service to Humanity.” • The ceremony ended with a renewed call for partnerships, voluntary donations and collective action toward building a brighter and more inclusive future for Nigeria.