Young, versatile, urbane, and resourcefully articulate, Charles Brown, the Executive Chairman of the Finima Youth Congress (FYC), is passionate about issues concerning young people, especially as it relates to their input in achieving social impact, communal harmony, and development. 

The Telecoms Engineer with Globacom in Bonny Local Government Area, who is married and blessed with two beautiful daughters, obtained a Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering from the Rivers State University, Port Harcourt, and also doing business and involved in philanthropy. Combined with these roles, Brown also serves as a Youth Pastor in the Redeemed Christian Church Of God, Bonny.         

In this interview with Kristina Reports’ Publisher/Editor-in-Chief, Godswill Jumbo, he renders what can be described as an account of stewardship in his first year as Chairman of the FYC, challenges his executive have been confronted with and the milestones they have achieved and the motivating factors behind these sterling feats. Savour the read:

You have been involved in philanthropy over the years, does this include superintending the activities of Finima youths?

When I mentioned philanthropy or being philanthropic, I think that is just on a personal aspect and that is because even before I became a youth chairman it has always being a part of me. But I think being a youth Chairman gives me a better platform to really show people love and support in every way possible within my capacity.

As Chairman of Finima youths and then as a pastor – these are very challenging responsibilities – how do you find a balance?

The day after I took my oath of office, I told my wife, I said to her from today Finima owns 60 per cent of my time, and resources my family owns 40 per cent. It is very difficult and challenging because in the mornings I wake up and when you are a youth Chairman you work 24/7, I go to bed late. So, my family pays the ultimate price. But I thank God for my wife, she is a very understanding woman. Although, at times, it pains her but she has accepted the fact that for the next three years of my life I’ll be serving the Finima people. Combining with the church and ministry, it is not very easy because when you are in faith, it is easy to give instructions to people. People obey you because of God. But when you are a community leader or a politician, it’s a different ball game because you are dealing with people who know what you know. So, you have to look for ways to convince them to see the light the way you see it, you can’t force them. But I’ve been a youth pastor, I’ve been in the youth ministry for years now; in fact, I told people that I have only been a leader in the church circle. This is actually the first time in my life that I have to lead a group of people that involves the church, the pagans, the Muslims, all kinds of faith. So, it is not very easy combining it. But I think I am growing in the job and I’m doing well by God’s grace.  

Talking about doing well we’ve been hearing the stories of you doing a lot of projects, doing a road, organising training programs to build the capacity of youths…what are the rundown of these projects?

I think one of the reasons why the Finima people voted us into office – when I say us, I am referring to myself and my Excos – it is because the Finima people have this faith in us. When we were campaigning we were making promises that people saw as impossible to fulfil. But I have always said to myself that with God I can do all things. And I am careful not to make a promise that is not achievable. So, everything we are doing is part of the promise we made to our people and I think it is promise made, promise being fulfilled. For instance, after our inauguration, one of my uncles, after I gave my inaugural speech, asked me and said ‘Mehn, all these promises, how are going to bring them to pass?’ This is because it has never been done before?’ and I said, ‘Uncle, we will.’ We made promises to our student in tertiary institution that we will be giving them bursary – and right now, we are doing it. In total, we have given bursary to more than 85 students to encourage them as well as to support their Education. Now, not only Finima indigenes alone – because my philosophy is that there are people who have stayed with us in this community for years. They do all we do, they contribute to the development of this community. So, when the benefits comes, they should also be part of it.  So, as long as they meet the criteria, the criteria is very simple you are in a tertiary institution, at least, you are in Year One, you registered that quality’s you  to have the bursary. For the secondary schools also and the primary school we have not left them.

Recently, we have given scholarships. When I mean scholarships, that is tuition fees, books, uniforms to those that we selectively know that their parents cannot afford it. Talking about secondary school students. Also, for the university aspects, we looked at people that cannot afford it…you know it grieves my heart that when somebody is offered admission because of money the person cannot process the admission. So for such people, we took upon ourselves and we are giving them 100% scholarship as long as we are in office. In fact, we are even making plans that by the time we leave office it will be a continuous process. So, if it is possible to pay in advance for your school for the next four years because the next man that will take over from me, I don’t know his vision. So, it is better we secure your education before we leave office so that even when we leave office you should be able to finish your school successfully, as long as you are willing to study. So, it is promise made, promise fulfilled. As part of the education support we are given to our people, we also paid for Jamb and WAEC registration for more than 50 persons, the beauty of this is that most of our student passed and some have been offered admission which we are helping to process. Can you imagine what would have happened to these bright students if we never assisted these persons by paying for their Jamb and WAEC?

We also considered our elderlies, how we can positively impact their lives, because, sincerely, there is hunger in the land despite the multinationals that are surrounding us. So, for our elderly people that cannot help themselves, we cannot abandon them. So, we decided that periodically we give out welfare packages and N10, 000:00 to our Elderlies based on available Sources. With God helping us, it will be a continuous thing as along we are in office. And it is a blessing to be a blessing to our elderlies, people that cannot take care of themselves.  Apart from that, we organised free medical treatment for 60 years and above. So, once you are 60 and you have any health issue, you go to the health centre they treat you and they send the bills to us, and the Congress pays. And again, it is not for only Finima people. As long as you reside in Finima, you are free to partake in the free medical scheme.

For the road projects, when we looked at the community we are having congestion. It hasn’t been noticed but everything is just being centred on the centre of the community. So, what we now decided to do – God has blessed us with land, we must not wait for government to do everything for us. We must not even wait for our leaders. I believe that development is everybody’s responsibility, as long as you are in a position where you can contribute your quota, be involved. So, what we said is that let us open up Finima and when you have roads, when you have light, when you have water in a location, people will surely inhabit that place. So, we looked at the Agaja area – it is an area that the leadership, the elders of the community, have marked out for road. So, we decided was that let us take the bull by the horn and open up the place. The total distance is more than 1 kilometres.  We believe when that road comes to be, people will build houses there and the Central Finima will be decongested. Now, these are some of the things that we are doing and like I said, it is promise made, promise fulfilled. And we still intend to do more based on available resources.

Your Youth Centre is wearing a very nice new look…

Yeah, when we came in the Youth Centre was something else. My predecessor tried his best, he did his own part. But if we leave the Youth Centre the way we met it, it will collapse on us. That is the truth. And one day I wasn’t there but I was told that Hon Aye Pepple came around and when he saw the Youth Centre he frowned at the dilapidated nature of the Finima Youth Congress Secretariat. He said we could not maintain the legacy he has left. I was touched when I heard that because the average Nigerian has a negative culture of lack of maintenance. We lack maintenance. So, as part of our one year in office, I told my executives we are not going to celebrate it. Let us gather resources and bring this Youth Centre back to its glorious state and even make it more beautiful than what it was. And that is what we are doing.  We wrote letters to companies even to NLNG, we are still waiting for support. But one thing I like doing is before I cry for help, let me move, let people see that this is how far I have gone. I can proudly tell you that it is only one company that gave us support- Evomec, what they did was donations. They donated tiles and paints to us. The rest of the things you see today in the Youth Centre was done exclusively by the Finima Youth Congress. And like I said, the letters we wrote, we are still expecting feedback. We have not gotten but the renovation is almost complete.

RENOVATION OF YOUTH CENTRE

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In all of these, how were you able to create the synergy to drive these projects and programmes? How has it been, your executives, your predecessors? How were you able to mobilize this high level of synergy to achieve these things?

God has been so kind to me, because I owe God all the thanks for everything he has done for me – my executive members are wonderful. In fact, I can’t wish for a better executive. Before we came into office we agreed that we are going into office to serve Finima. And we agreed within ourselves that every resources belonging to the Finima Youth Congress will and must be spent for the Finima Youth Congress and that is what we are doing. They agreed with me. So, when we got into office all 11 of us, it was like what we agreed before we entered office, it is time for implementation. And one thing also we agreed is that, as much as possible, our focus is Finima. When I mean Finima I am talking about Brown, Attoni and Tobin, and not segregation in any way. As executive members, we are united. Of course, opinions might be different. That is why we do have executive meetings. As a Chairman, I don’t take decisions solely. I consult with my Vice and my executive members, and say ‘this is my vision’. How do you see it? Contribute. We might argue about it. We all want the progress of Finima, although, how to make it happen might be different. But at the end of the day we will all come to a good consensus that this is how it must be done. So, I am one person that ensures that every person is being carried along, everybody. So, they have this sense of belonging. It is not because I am Chairman I can always overrule their decisions. I know, ultimately, I am responsible for what happens in the congress. But I still allow them because for people to vote for them they have reasons why they voted them. So, allow them to contribute their own quota in terms of suggestions, in terms of criticizing policies that may come up. But at the end of the day, we synergize to make things happen. If I don’t have the support of my executive all we are seeing today in Finima cannot be. But because I have their support and I have the mandate of the people and I am trusting God that going forward better days are ahead.

ECHOES OF FYC BANQUET & AWARDS

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On the other hand, how have you been able to manage with these companies, multinationals operating and doing their business around Finima? Apart from the Evomec incident, we have not had situations like Finima youths picketing any company, blocking any road or any demonstration and all of that, yet you have operated seamlessly. How have you been able to relate with these companies, business, multinationals, seamlessly?

Well, when we got into office – like I said this is the first time of leadership in this aspect – it was challenging. I looked at the way things were done before. I got advice from my predecessor, he has been a very wonderful friend. I owe him a lot. I got advice from the leadership of the community, but, ultimately, I call the shots on how I want to relate with the companies and I discovered that if we follow peace, if we follow dialogue, we can achieve more. I want to state that Evomec Global Services have been of immense help and support to us, last December, they won the ‘Most Supporting Company of the Year’ Award for the first time in the history of Finima Youth Congress.  That was because of the great support we received from them last year. Other companies have been supporting but Evomec Global Services has been superb. We owe them a lot for what they have done for the community and which they are still doing. As for other companies, we try to see how we can dialogue with them. I really hate when youths block company gates, seize vehicles or molest companies but I have also discovered that there are some companies that if you don’t do it the animal way, which is negative and wrong, you don’t get results. There are companies that will fail or outrightly tell you they will not give you youth development levies to support the youths.

Seriously?

Yes, they do. And I have always stated it that it is the duty of companies to ask me what we have been doing with the youth development levy that is been paid. ‘What are you using it to do, give me physical evidences’, because it won’t be good for somebody to be paying for something and you are not seeing what you are paying for? Now, they see what we are doing and that is why some of them have freely chosen to support us, particularly, Evomec and other companies. But there are some that are still very adamant. They don’t want to, and I see it as greed because you cannot be operating in somebody’s land and you don’t want to be involved in the development of the land.

This particular erring companies, what steps are being taken to call them to order? Have you like tried engaging the Chiefs of the three house of Finima, the King Perekule Palace, or the BIRC?

These are matters that are not beyond us. So, I have never taken any matter to the Palace. I have also not called the three leadership of the houses but I still consult the leadership of the community when I have very difficult decisions to take, especially, decisions that I know will impact the entire community. I have to consult because being Chairman does not mean I know it is all. There are some community leaders and stakeholders that I consult and they have never guided me wrongly. I am a young man, I am learning and growing. So, after due consultations, like I said, the best way to relate with these companies is to have a relationship with them, peacefully. But those companies that are not cooperating with us, what we are doing is that we are trying to approach it from the top. Of course, the community leadership is aware. And also, the NLNG ERC department is aware. For Shell, their CLO is aware. And Mobil, they are aware. And at their own level, they are helping us. But, I must tell you that, that is not good enough, especially, the company representatives at the very top. They are not doing enough. Now, that does not mean we don’t appreciate what they have done for us. No, not at all. We believe that, as Bonny people, specifically, as Finima people, we deserve more. So, we keep pushing until we get what our people deserve.

Okay, talking about what your people deserve. There has been this phenomenon that has been trending that some Finima youths get job opportunities and then exchange it for money, how have you been able to deal with this? It is one thing sourcing for opportunities to empower the community, and then those opportunities come and they are traded for immediate cash. And they come back and repeat the circle again and this is with its attendant retrogressive effect instead of a progressive one. How are you dealing with this?

First and foremost, like I say to people, Finima is a normal society where we have the good, the bad, everybody. Now, this is a challenge not in Finima alone but for the entire Bonny, and as a matter of fact, the whole Niger Delta, where it is as if when job opportunities come our people want to exchange it for money. But I want to say categorically that I won’t deny the fact or say that it is not true. But I will say we are fighting it and one of our slogans in the Finima Youth Congress is that we don’t sell jobs. We have never exchanged money for jobs. We have never encouraged anybody to do same on our behalf. And if, peradventure, we see anybody doing that…let’s say we give you a job or you are shortlisted from your house because jobs belong to houses – that is the formula from the bureau. And you exchange it for money; we will discipline you because if you are not capable to carry out that task, there are many of your brothers and sisters looking for jobs. So, why will you exchange it for money? Then you now come back again and stay on the queue? No, no, no, we will not take that. It is wickedness to exchange money for jobs. So, at every level, we are discouraging it and we will never be part of it.  And so one of the things we did, like I said earlier, is we decided that our youths should be trained on every level of skill that they want to do. And we also sponsored them. For instance, the last training we had more than 450 people were trained at the Finima Youth Centre. We partnered with a certifying agency so that after the training they should be able to issue a certificate that is widely acceptable, that you can use in getting jobs, not only in Bonny but even outside Bonny. We paid 20% of the fees.

What kind of certificates?

We had HSE, welding, fabrication, catering, scaffolding, a lot. We did it here. More than 450 persons partook of it. In fact, at the closing ceremony, Hon. Abinye Pepple was present himself to applaud us and to see what we are doing. We did that purposefully to prepare our people.  I am an electrical engineer but you won’t believe that after school I went and learnt a skill. I did electrical installation. I did it at BVC. I left school with very good honours. But I still had to go learn the skill because I believe that what we need in Nigeria are skills. An engineer without practical skills, you are not complete. So, now, when you are not an engineer you must have a skill because you must survive. So, we are pushing our people to get these skills. And good for our people, we subsidised it. We paid 20% of the total cost for everybody that partook, everybody residing in Finima and everybody that participated. We paid for 20% for them. And for people that cannot afford at all, we paid 100% for them. So, that is a clear sign of saying you are inexcusable. You don’t have any reason to say you don’t have skills. But you know when you have done everything for man and he fails to use the opportunity you have given to him you can be justified to say I can’t help you again.

What are those values and ideals your administration in the Finima Youth Congress is passing across to the youths of Finima and what legacies do you look at?

Someone told me and said within one year what you have achieved is enormous, within one year. I smiled. But I know that we have not done everything we intend to do because till today we still have our people that are job-hungry but they are not being employed. But thank God for the train 7 that is coming and the Bonny-Bodo road project and other construction projects that are coming. Our people will be employed. 

My greatest legacy – which I want to leave, which is my drive, which is why I decided to contest for the position of the congress Chairman – is to write my name in the history books of those that have served this land. That once, I was a Chairman and served with ten dedicated executive members and we were able to change Finima for the better. That is my target, which is my goal. And I have always said it jokingly but I meant it when I said it, even as much as people will laugh. I said I want somebody that will take over from me to suffer. What I mean by that is that I want to set a pace where when you take over from me you must beat me, and to beat me, you must do far, far better than I did. So, I am raising the bar for the person that will take over from me. I wish him well. It is too early to talk about my successor but I wish him well. I want whoever that will take over from me to do far better than I have done for Finima community. And if you ask me, I have not done anything yet. I have not done anything yet because I still have two more years to go. Like I told you earlier, I told my wife that 60% of my life belongs to Finima, as long as I am Chairman. So, we still have a long way to go. And of course there are challenges, challenges of unemployment, other social vices, cultism, teenage pregnancy, drug abuse; these are menaces that we have to deal with. I thank God that today the drug abuse level has drastically reduced because of the war that we fronted against the use of illicit drugs. But there are still a lot of things that by God’s grace that Bonny Kingdom will see that we are doing.