Bonny Now Open to Investors – LG Chairman Declares, Tasks Youths on Security, Promises AI Skills Development Centre

With the opening of the Bodo-Bonny Road, Bonny is now open to investors to come and leverage on its vast potential for businesses, Chairman of the Local Government Area, Abinye Pepple has said.

Pepple said this on Saturday, December 13, 2025 during a One-Day Peace Seminar organized by the Bonny Youth Federation (BYF) in Bonny, Rivers State.

He stated that the access availed by the Bodo-Bonny Road comes with multifaceted challenges including that of security, charging the youths to support the government and the security agencies with timely, veritable and valuable information.

The LG Chairman averred that local intelligence was critical to security efficiency, asserting that his administration working

In his presentation on the Seminar’s theme: “Mindset-Shift and Critical Conversation for Sustainable Peace and Development”, the keynote speaker, Adewole Oriade harped on the nexus between sustainable peace and sustainable development.

He averred that the youths need to achieve a mindset shift to be able to effectively engage in critical conversations, asserting that regardless of how discomforting critical conversations are, they are not to be avoided given that they are pivotal pathways to sustainable peace and development.

“Most often than not we try to avoid critical conversation because it can be so uncomfortable to have and we believe it might lead to a bigger conflict.”

“Mindset Shift and Critical conversation are essential pathways to peace and sustainable development by fostering social cohesion, rebuilding trust, addressing root causes of conflict, and ensuring inclusive governance.”

“A mindset shift is the transformative process of changing deeply held beliefs, attitudes, and perspectives to
adopt a more empowering, growth-oriented outlook.”

Earlier, the Leader of the Bonny Youth Federation (BYF), Anthony Banigo had explained that the annual Seminar aims at availing youths a platform to interact with leaders of thought in diverse areas, saying, so far, the Seminar has served as a podium for ideation, interaction and integration.

He thanked the Amanyanabo of Bonny Kingdom, His Majesty, King Edward Asimini William Dappa Pepple III, CON, JP, DSSRS, Perekule XI for his fatherly guidance availed the youths, as well as the Bonny LGA Chairman for the support he has continued to provide the BYF since his assumption of office.

Representatives of the Department of State Services Bonny Division and Nigerian Navy Forward Operating Base Bonny, Godwin Ndah, and Lt Cdr Manji Golmot, expressed delight over the Seminar, pointing out that the issues discussed have the potential of helping the youth achieve a mindset shift germane to critical conversations on sustainable development.

In attendance at the meeting were the Secretary to Bonny Local Government, leaders and delegates of various chieftaincy house youth associations, representatives of security agencies and various other institutions in Bonny LGA.