Dickson gave the advice after taking a swim in the River Forcados in his community, where he spent the first 20 years of his life.
Sharing his experience, the former Bayelsa State governor said revisiting the river brought back memories of his childhood and gave him an opportunity to enjoy one of his familiar activities.
“Today, I visited the river by which I grew up till age 20. I went and had a swim in the River Forcados, right here in my community, and it was great!” he said.
Dickson explained that swimming was an activity he practised occasionally and one he also enjoyed with his children, all of whom, he said, had learnt how to swim.
He urged young men to acquire swimming skills, stressing that the ability to swim goes beyond recreation, especially for people living in communities surrounded by rivers and other waterways.
“I encourage all young men to learn how to swim. Not only is it a good sport, but it is also an essential life skill, particularly for those of us living around here,” he stated.
His message highlights the importance of water safety and swimming education, particularly in riverine communities where knowledge of swimming can help reduce the risks associated with everyday interaction with water.
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