By Oghenefejiro Emado
27, August 2026
Delta State Governor, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, has charged youths in the state to go beyond chasing social media clout and turn their followers, likes and online influence into wealth and employment opportunities.
The governor gave the charge on Thursday at the 4th edition of the Delta State Social Media Summit held at the Mariam Babangida Leisure Park and Film Village, Asaba.
He was represented by the Commissioner for Works (Rural Roads) and Public Information, Mr. Charles Aniagwu.
The summit was organised by the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Media, Mr. Ossai Ovie Success. It was aimed at equipping young people with practical skills to harness the creative and economic opportunities in the digital space.
Oborevwori said social media has fundamentally altered communication and the economic landscape by giving individuals platforms to reach large audiences, create value and generate income.
He urged youths not to be carried away by “likes, followers or the need to build clout,” but to ensure their online presence translates into tangible economic benefits.
Citing Ossai Ovie Success as an example, the governor noted how social media could be transformed from a personal communication tool into a viable source of jobs and wealth.
“Social media has given us a platform where individuals who ordinarily would have become prospective job seekers now become prospective employers of labour,” Oborevwori said.
The governor, however, cautioned content creators against using digital platforms to promote crime, fraud or other illegal activities.
He stressed that the freedom and opportunities provided by social media must be matched with responsibility.
Oborevwori urged youths to focus on creating value-driven content that attracts audiences and opens doors for advertising, partnerships and other legitimate sources of income.
He explained that a large online audience can turn a personal device into a mass communication platform, adding that brands are increasingly seeking high-traffic platforms to advertise products and services.
“Today, there are a number of persons who see or hear what we do in Delta via the Ossai Success platform. This means it is not just the telephone in his hand; it has become another television that is helping him communicate to a vast majority of people,” he said.
The governor said his administration recognizes that government alone cannot build the Delta of the people’s dreams, and called on youths, entrepreneurs and creatives to contribute to the state’s development.
He urged participants to network with established personalities in the creative industry and build relationships that can advance their careers and businesses.
Oborevwori linked the summit to his administration’s broader economic agenda, noting that the creative industry was identified as one of the key thematic areas at the Delta State Economic Summit.
Earlier, the convener, Ossai Ovie Success, said the 4th edition was designed to unleash the creative potential of Delta youths and equip them to use social media for information dissemination, innovation and wealth creation.
He added that the summit was also intended to expose young Deltans to opportunities in the digital economy and encourage them to turn creativity and online presence into sustainable livelihoods.
The keynote address was delivered by Engr. Prof. Hilary Ijeoma Owamah, Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academics), Delta State University, Abraka.
