Youth empowerment panacea to nation’s insecurity — Don

Prof. Uchenna Ufoaroh of the Department of Electronics and Computer Engineering, Nnamdi Azikiwe University (UNIZIK), Awka has said that empowering the nation’s youths economically remains the panacea to insecurity.

Ufoaroh said this on Sunday at Ukpo, Dunukofia Local Government Area (LGA) of the state.

He spoke as a Guest Speaker at a youth conference and inauguration of Dunukofia chapter of the Youth Assembly of Nigeria (YAN).

Supreme news reports that the conference was tagged “A Changing Narrative of the Future; Youth Participation and Roles in Governance.”

He said: “In order to tackle our security challenges in Nigeria, the three tiers of government must design deliberate policies and programmes to empower the youths economically.

“When you engage these teeming youths there will be no room for idling, which often results in social vices and other crimes, because they say ‘an idle mind is the devil’s workshop’.

“When our youths become self reliant, we have secured the future of Nigeria because many of them will be meaningfully engaged to contribute positively to society,” he said.

The don, who is also the President-General, Ifitedunu Town Union, urged the country’s youths to be focused in life to enable them to succeed and contribute meaningfully to society.

“You have to acquire education because it is the sure way to success in life,” he said.

Ufoaroh frowned at the poor response of the he South-East youths to the ongoing Nigeria Army recruitment.

According to him, as long as the Igbo remain part of Nigeria, there is the need for you to join the military and paramilitary to fill your own quota.

“You are marginalising yourselves by not getting recruited into the military and paramilitary in the country,” he said.

Also, Dr Nelson Omenugha, the Special Adviser to Gov. Chukwuma Soludo, on Youth Empowerment, said that the State Government was passionate about youth empowerment, hence its “One Youth Two Skills” programme.

“This programme is meant to empower our youths to be better persons and contribute meaningfully to Anambra,” he said.

Omenugha also advised the youths to participate in politics as future leaders, in order to promote policies and programmes that would benefit society.

The Mayor of the LGA, Mr Chijioke Ozumba, said that the council had started its 2025 skill acquisition programmes to empower the youths to be self reliant.

Ozumba said that under the programme, 200 youths are being empowered in skills, such as hairdressing, soap production, making of confectioneries, fashion design, among others.

“After the training, each person will be empowered with ₦1 million to start their trade,” he said.

He also said that under the programme, 200 youth farmers would receive ₦50,000 grant each to boost their agri-business.

Inaugurating the local government chapter of YAN, the Speaker YAN in the state, Mr Mayor Ezeani, advised the executive to be transparent and carry members along.

A community leader in Dunukofia, Chief Andrew Modili, urged parents to ensure proper upbringing of their children, “so that when they grow up they would not depart from the good path”.

Earlier, the Speaker YAN, Dunukofia chapter, Mr Kingsley Anusi, said that the youth assembly was planning a scholarship scheme for 20 indigent students from the area.

Supreme news also reports that another highpoint of the even was the award of recognition to Omenugha, Ozumba, Ufoaroh and a few others for their immense contributions to the development of the youth and state.