WARRI, DELTA STATE- The 10th-anniversary celebration of the Society for the Welfare of Unemployed Youths of Nigeria (SWUYN), reached a high point on its third day as two prominent media leaders took the stage. Warefa Pereke, CEO and Editor-in-Chief of Izon Times Media, and Comrade Austin Ozobo, National President of the Ijaw Publishers Forum and Publisher of Congress Newspaper, served as guest speakers for the event.
The session, themed “Using Media and Social Platforms to Amplify Youth Issues and Influence Policy,” provided the audience with practical tools to navigate the digital age.
Warefa Pereke delivered a compelling presentation focused on the economic power of mobile technology. He emphasized that a smartphone is more than a communication device; it is a portable office.
He walked the participants through various ways to launch Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) using only their phones. By highlighting accessible digital tools, he showed the youths how to bypass traditional barriers to starting a business, such as high rent and heavy overhead costs.
Following this, Comrade Austin Ozobo shifted the focus toward strategic networking and brand building. As a veteran publisher, he discussed how media and social platforms serve as essential strategies for creating new business opportunities.
Ozobo encouraged the youths to view social media as a professional marketplace. He explained that by consistently sharing value and engaging with the right digital communities, young entrepreneurs could attract investors and reach customers far beyond their local environment.
In appreciation of their contributions to the media landscape and social advocacy, both speakers were honored with special awards:
* Comrade Austin Ozobo was presented with the Youth Voice Advocacy Media Award.
* Warefa Pereke received the Outstanding Advocacy Journalism Award.
These honors reflect their long-standing commitment to using their platforms for the betterment of society and the advancement of youth-related causes.
The speeches left a visible mark on the attendees. The hall was filled with a sense of renewed energy as participants were seen taking notes and immediately discussing business ideas.
The practical nature of the advice—moving from “job seeking” to “digital creating”—gave many of the unemployed youths a clear starting point. By the end of the session, the audience didn’t just leave with information; they left with a digital roadmap for self-reliance and the confidence to influence public policy through their own online voices.
