Diri urges Bayelsa businessmen to invest back home 

Douye Diri, governor of Bayelsa State, has called on business leaders from the state to complement government efforts by investing in the state and their communities to advance development.

Diri argued that government alone cannot be the sole employer of labour in the state and that it required the support and encouragement of the private sector.

He made the call recently while commissioning the Major F.G Berezi Civic Centre at Kaiama, a 1000-seat structure, built by Preye Berezi, a young Bayelsa-born businessman and founder of the Preye Patrick Berezi Foundation.

Diri said government had proven not to be a good “businessman” and expressed delight that Berezi heeded his call to Bayelsans to invest at home.

He described the Chief Executive Officer of PFL Engineering Services, an oil and gas services company, as a “thorough-bred son of his parents.”

Diri said that the businessman has demonstrated love for his community through positive actions in the construction of the civic centre as an example of what was expected of citizens that had been blessed and affected by their immediate environment.

He said: “There is no monopoly on who can develop our communities. When you give back to society, everyone benefits.

“This project should be an eye opener to our youths. Being a youth is a beautiful thing. But they should dream big, work towards it, and realise that their destiny is not in the hands of any politician.”

Diri said his administration was opening up the state for investors and that growth attracted to any part of Bayelsa under his watch was a good omen.

Gesi Asamaowei, chairman of the event, said he was not only proud of Berezi for building and donating the imposing edifice to his community, but also for not waiting for government in order to make an impact in society.

Asamaowei noted that by honouring his late father with the legacy project, Berezi’s days would be long on earth, according to the Bible. 

“Posterity will be kind to him for this laudable edifice,” Asamaowei said.

In his remarks, Preye Berezi expressed love for the people of Kaiama as it would continue to drive his commitment to community development.

Berezi recalled that his childhood visits to his hometown with his parents inspired his gesture, having noticed that most social gatherings were held under the bridge, which had risks.

‎“I love the people of Kaiama and will never stop doing more for them from my hard-earned resources. They value me and I will never take that for granted.”

He urged the community to take good care of the facility, adding that he would not exercise further control over the edifice once he handed it over.

‎Berezi also promised to build a mini-stadium in Kaiama in furtherance of his community development initiative.

In their goodwill messages, Stanley Diriyai, a retired army general, Amaju Pinnick, the immediate past president, Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) and Ebiuwou Koku-Obiyai, Bayelsa State Commissioner for Information, Orientation and Strategy, all congratulated the donor for giving his community something to cherish.

They also applauded his public-spirited gesture to not only his immediate environment but also the state at large.