Nigerian students and youths from across the country recently gathered in Abuja to get better in formed on issues surrounding the deregulation of the down stream sector of the petroleum industry.The forum was an interactive session with the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC).Addressing the youths, the Group Managing Director (GMD) of the NNPC, Engineer Funsho Kupolokun explained why deregulation should be embraced by all for meaningful development to be achieved.

The GMD reiterated the fact that when there is deregulation there is job creation just as NNPC’s monopoly will gradually give way to competitiveness in the market place.He stressed that the reform agenda of the federal government was beneficial to all and must receive enough support from the youths. He stated further that only last year, more than seven hundred youths were employed into the NNPC.

Engr. Kupolokun added that one thousand of the youths would be employed this year. He explained that it was hoped that a thousand will be employed each in 2006 and 2007. The GMD noted that the employment of youths was done in order to rejuvenate the corporation and make it more vibrant.
According to him, the introduction of deregulation to the petroleum industry has helped greatly in the eradication of long queues from the filling stations given the fact that it has removed totally, scarcity of petroleum products in the nation.

Engineer Kupolokun disclosed that the gas sub-sector was exploding with opportunities and that over five thousand youths would be required in the next four years to occupy various positions to play their parts in the development of the industry, thanks to deregulation. According to him therefore, deregulation for the youths means job creation and employment.

Answering questions at the occasion from the youths and students on what government’s reform agenda was all about, the Personal Assistant to the President on Youths and Student Matters, Aihaji Faruk Bibi Faruk, said that the reform process was not just about the oil industry but a broad-based policy aimed at a total reformation and re-orientation of Nigeria.

Alhaji Faruk also stressed that the whole world was changing and Nigeria and its people must strive hard not to be left behind in the transformation era