By Helen Ikpe
Youths have the potentials for social reforms and therefore should be given fair hearing and included in all nation building planning processes.
The Commissioner of Information and Strategy, Comrade Ini Ememobong , made this known during a one day campaign on "Youth participation in National Development" organized by Akwa Ibom State Directorate of National Orientation Agency, NOA, on Thursday 15th, April, 2021 at the Federal Secretariat complex, Uyo.
The commissioner, said that youths, who are the bedrock of the society are ever willing to learn and act towards progress and should be encouraged to contribute their quota towards the development of our Nation in general and Akwa Ibom State in particular.
Represented by the Director of Public Relations in the Ministry, Mrs. Grace Akpan, the Commissioner said the Summit is apt coming at a time our Nation is facing severe challenges of unemployment, insecurity, assassination , insurgency and kidnapping, among others which affect the youths and as well battering the
image and economy of our country at large.
He charged Akwa Ibom youths to shun all forms of negative acts and vices capable of scuttling their progress in life and embrace Governor Udom Emmanuel's youth development programmes to better their lots and enable them contribute meaningfully to the development of the nation and state.
"As stakeholders in nation building, youths should rise up and contribute to the development processes of the state, even as Governor Udom Emmanuel gears efforts towards transforming the state from a Civil Service orientation to a private sector driven economy", the Information helmsman said.
Comrade Ememobong said, as a youth friendly Governor, Mr. Udom Emmanuel has placed youths participation in governance on the front burner of his administration and has created the enabling environment for the development of their skills through human capacity building.
"Governor Udom Emmanuel's administration has introduced numerous youth programmes and opened up opportunities to empower the youths, create employment, provide skills acquisition as well as entrepreneurial development towards safeguarding and securing the future of Akwa Ibom youths to enable them participate in the development of the state ", he said.
The Director General of National Orientation Agency, Dr. Garba Abari who was represented by the state Director of NOA, Akwa Ibom State, Mr Eno Uyoh, stated that the youths and indeed the nation is faced with myriads of challenges and mentioned some of the challenges to include; unemployment, poverty, youth's marginalization in governance, corruption, and so on.
Dr. Abari stated that the summit is for youths' reawakening and consciousness to embrace the National Core values and Ethics and urged the youths to avoid being used by selfish leaders to further their political ambition.
The Director General called on Nigerians to rise in one accord and protect our national unity and thanked the state for creating an enabling environment to host the campaign.
The chairman of the event, Dr. Dorathy Thompson - Chairman, Ethical and Attitudinal Reorientation Commission, EARCOM, encouraged the youths to participate and involve in governance and decision making, and shun cultism adding that, Akwa Ibomites are great people with great minds and not instruments of negativity.
Goodwill messages were presented by Comrade (Bar) Theodore Williams - Chairman National Youth Council of Nigeria, Mr Oga Samuel Ochi, Civil Defence Corps Commander, Sector Commander FRSC, Akwa Ibom state, CSP Ekpeni O. Ajai, and representative of the Commissioner of police, Akwa Ibom state.
Others were; Mrs Eme Jimmy, representing the Chairman, Uyo L.G.Area, Comrade Ifot Ifot of the Civil society and Human Right Coalition, Akwa bom state as well as the lead presenter, Apostle Samuel George Joshua among others.
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