Stakeholders at the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) summit have advised the youths to actively get involved in the socio-economic and political development of the nation as they serve as one of the integral aspect of nation building.
They made the call during a one day APGA Youth Summit Onitsha North & South Local Government Area, held at the Onitsha North Secretariat with the theme ‘Between Youths, Security and Community Development’.
South-East Regional Deputy Youth Leader of APGA, Mr Chinedu Romanus Eze (YaGazie) said the essence of the summit was to brain storm on how to mobilize the Youth to contribute in addressing the challenges of insecurity, unemployment and ensure good leadership at the community levels as being championed by Governor Soludo.
Yagazie called on the some unemployed youths to think out of the box by embracing vocational skills, and not thinking how to travel outside the country for greener pastures whereas our dear country is blessed with a lot of potentials.
He described the issue of zoning of the Anambra Governorship seat 2025 as not negotiable, insisting that the Incumbent Governor of the State, Professor Charles Chukwuma Soludo will remain in office for second tenure to complete the eight year tenure for the Anambra South Senatorial Zone. And expressed hope that Mr Governor, Prof Charles Chukwuma Soludo reelection is going to be an easy ride considering the fact he is doing well in the areas of security, education, organized environmental sanitation, health care, Road Construction among others under his administration.
Earlier speaking, Chairman, Onitsha North Local Government, Hon Onochie Ozoma, maintained that if you engage the youths, and empower them then there is no need for development as youths are integral part of developing a society.
Expressing gratitude with the developmental strides of Mr Governor, Hon Ozoma described Soludo as a Youth Friendly Governor who has engaged over five thousand youths through in Anambra through 1 Youth 2 Skills initiative, access to loan and training programmes in ICT.
A Guest speaker, Rev Fr Valentine Obiagwu, said that most people lack proper values which are meant to be treasures, ethical principles which will help influence the way we interact thus, the need to refresh and enliven them again especially the youths so as to evoke a renewed interest and vigor in observing and practicing them.
Fr Obiagwu noted that the youths as leaders of tomorrow should imbibe values of integrity, education, clean environment, work and commitment to duty, agriculture, life and health, love, and nation building which will always lead them to create heights and self fulfilment.
Rtd Commissioner of Police, Lagos state, CP Ik Ayo Aduba, speaking on ‘Youths and Security’, said the Youths are still in search of identity as he bemoaned over the rising spate of kidnapping, banditry, robbery, internet fraud among others.
CP Aduba however, reiterated that there are a lot of rich resources in Nigeria and as such there is need to utilise the youths by engaging them in areas of interest, training and empowerment in order to legitimately improve the general well-being and reduce crime to the barest minimum.
Former, APGA House of Assembly candidate in last 2023 election, in Onitsha North LGA, Hon Anthony Nwora who spoke on ‘Motivating the Youths on Opportunities to Excel’ stated that the youths have enormous potentials to execute projects, especially during electioneering processes.
He added that education has a vital role to play among the youths as it tends to create more opportunities for them to excel in their areas of expertise. While admonishing Prof Charles Soludo on his total transformation in the state called on all the youths to show support by voting him for continuity.
Another Speaker, Dr O. Mulumba from the department of Philosophy, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, explained that the concept of the youth lies in a progressive mind, a mind that seek change, a mind free from degenerative tendencies, such mindsets should be adopted by the Youths for them to thrive successfully in the everyday business of life.
Meanwhile, questions and answers session took centre stage as pertinent issues were discussed and solutions proffered.
Dignitaries present were Hon Ojinaka Uzoechina APGA Zonal Chairman Anambra North, Hon Nnamdi Onukwuba former Commissioner for Agriculture, Dr Mulumba Obiajulu from Unizik, Hon Ejiofor Egwuatu (Mgbiligba) Former Member, Anambra State House of Assembly Awka, Dr Obidi Ifejika Former SA on Agriculture, Dr Kay Chukwurah Member ASUBEB, Hon Chike Nwanolue Former Councillor Ward 1 Onitsha North LGA, Hon Anthony Nwabunwanne Deputy Chairman of Onitsha North LGA, Martin Obika Former APGA Chairman Onitsha North LGA and APGA Anambra State Welfare Officer,
Former National Publicity Secretary of APGA, Chief Bobnry Obiokoye (Onowu Umolum), Hon Onyebuchi Obi SA Special Duties to Mr Governor among Others.
