YENAGOA, BAYELSA — The Director of the City Boy Movement, Bayelsa State Chapter, His Highness Barr. Osomkime Edwin Blankson, has reaffirmed the movement’s commitment to working closely with Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) across the state as part of efforts to deepen grassroots engagement, promote the programmes of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration, and mobilise support ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!
Barr. Blankson made the commitment during a strategic interactive meeting with representatives of various NGOs and support groups held in Yenagoa on Thursday, July 9, 2026.
Speaking at the gathering, the City Boy Movement Director expressed appreciation to the participating organisations for honouring the invitation, describing the meeting as an important platform for dialogue, collaboration and mutual understanding.
“I want to sincerely, on behalf of the City Boy Movement, Bayelsa State Chapter, appreciate all of you for coming. It is important for us to interact with representatives of NGOs because we value your contributions and want to build a stronger partnership,” he said.
Addressing concerns raised by participants over the treatment of NGO representatives during a recent symposium in Benin, Edo State, Barr. Blankson apologised on behalf of the movement and accepted responsibility for any shortcomings.
“If what you are saying is what actually happened, then I sincerely apologise on behalf of the City Boy Movement. I don’t want to apportion blame. As the head of the movement in Bayelsa State, I take full responsibility for whatever may have gone wrong,” he stated.
The Director assured participants that NGOs would remain integral partners in future programmes and initiatives of the movement, noting that their inclusion in previous engagements reflected the organisation’s commitment to inclusive participation.
According to him, NGOs remain strategic stakeholders in countering misinformation and educating citizens about the policies and programmes of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration.
“There is a lot of disinformation in the media space. The City Boy Movement alone cannot effectively reach every community. That is why we need NGOs and other support organisations to work hand in hand with us in taking the right message to our people and supporting the re-election of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu,” he said.
Explaining the rationale behind the Federal Government’s ongoing economic reforms, Barr. Blankson compared the process to farming, saying every successful harvest requires patience, investment and commitment before yielding results.
“When a farmer prepares land, clears it, plants crops and nurtures them, he does not harvest immediately. The same principle applies to the economic reforms being implemented by President Tinubu. The benefits require time to mature before everyone begins to enjoy the harvest,” he explained.
He highlighted several initiatives of the Federal Government, including reforms in the power sector, expanded access to student loans through the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND), increased revenue allocation to states following fuel subsidy removal, and support opportunities available through the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN).
Barr. Blankson urged NGOs to sensitise their members and communities on available Federal Government intervention programmes and encourage eligible citizens to access grants, business support and educational opportunities.
He further disclosed that the City Boy Movement, in collaboration with SMEDAN and relevant stakeholders, would soon launch a large-scale empowerment programme in Bayelsa State.
“We are working towards a massive empowerment programme for Bayelsa State, and NGOs will be fully carried along. However, members must register on the City Boy Movement platform because beneficiaries will be verified through the registration database,” he said.
The Director also encouraged Nigerians without Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) to register and participate actively in the democratic process.
“Please encourage your members, friends and relatives to obtain their voter cards because that remains the legitimate means of supporting President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the candidates of our party,” he urged.
Barr. Blankson further called on NGOs to support the developmental policies of the Bayelsa State Government under Governor Douye Diri while also backing candidates of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2027 elections.
“The City Boy Movement is APC. There is no City Boy Movement without APC. We appeal to everyone to support the party’s candidates at all levels because elected representatives will work together with the President and other leaders to deliver good governance,” he said.
He also announced that special programmes targeting women and youths would soon be unveiled, stressing that women remained central to national development.
“When you empower a woman, you empower a nation. We are preparing programmes specifically for women, and NGOs will also be involved in ensuring these initiatives succeed,” he added.
Earlier, in his welcome address, the Coordinator of NGOs and Support Groups, Hon. Idiseye Ikemike, Esq., thanked participants for their commitment to the movement and described the meeting as an opportunity for direct engagement with the leadership.
“We’re not doing anything outside what we’ve agreed to do. We felt there was a need to have a one-on-one interaction with our Director-General, and he graciously approved this meeting. Thank you all for your continued commitment to the success of our activities,” Ikemike said.
Speaking with EMTV News shortly after the meeting, the Coordinator of OEB Activated Group, Mr. Virus Ovie Amax, commended Barr. Blankson for what he described as exceptional leadership and effective mobilisation of support groups across Bayelsa State.
“We are happy because of the excellent work being done by the City Boy Movement Director, His Highness Barr. Osomkime Edwin Blankson. Today’s gathering speaks for itself. The turnout of NGOs demonstrates the growing acceptance of the movement across Bayelsa State,” Amax said.
He described the meeting as another milestone for the organisation, noting that the overwhelming attendance reflected the movement’s expanding grassroots presence and commitment to advancing the Renewed Hope agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
The interactive session concluded with renewed commitments from participants to strengthen collaboration between NGOs and the City Boy Movement in promoting civic engagement, grassroots mobilisation and public awareness of government programmes across Bayelsa State.
Kindly share
