… Receives Forum of SAs and SSAs, NANS leadership
Governor Hope Uzodimma of Imo State has called on the youth community in Nigeria to work together if they are desirous of achieving maximum result.
He said they should be intentional in evangelism that will lead to the youth leaders seeking out their colleagues wherever they are residing in any part of the country and discuss what binds them together.
Governor Uzodimma gave the advice weekend when he received a delegation of some Nigerian youth leaders, comprising Special Advisers and Senior Special Assistants on youth matters from the country under the aegis of ‘Forum of SAs and SSAs on Youths’.
Governor Uzodimma who formally welcomed the delegation at the New Exco Chambers in Owerri, aligning his views with the federal government’s focus on youth development, cited President Bola Tinubu’s commitment to education through the Student Loan Programme.
The Governor then challenged the youth leaders on the need to embark on coordinated action and national integration.
“If Nigeria will work, it depends on the strength and commitment of our youth population,” the Governor declared.
The Governor added: “Liaise with other youth organisations and anywhere there is youth community like in the ministry of youth affairs in the country and other agencies and departments of government, and come up with an ideology that can be harmonised in the interest of the youths.
“Look for what binds us together – things that promote unity of the country. Encourage such things and discourage things that divide us. Be guided by the spirit of nationalism and bring the entire youth community in Nigeria together. In fact, go on evagelisation of all your colleagues anywhere they are in the country and preach the good news of unity because this Country is about you.”
He strongly lamented the current fragmentation of youth organisations and tasked the Forum of SAs and SSAs to lead the charge in uniting the constituency.
“The job before you now is to arrange a
more coordinated approach for the youth population to come together, to find their destiny, (and) establish a model of policy that will allow for a smooth traffic,” he charged.
Governor Uzodimma further urged the youth to be pragmatic and prioritise national unity over ethnic or religious differences, noting, “It is the truth now that ideas rule the world. That is the spirit that you should deploy to nationalism.”
He asserted that the youths are the “owners of the country,” and the “new hope,” urging them to champion a united Nigeria. “If you don’t get it right now, it will be very difficult. Go on evagelisation. Carry the message of hope.”
Earlier, the Imo State Governor’s Special Adviser on Youths, Hon. Eric Uwakwe, who led the delegation, explained that the Forum was in Owerri for a three-day capacity-building retreat, and that they have come up with a comprehensive set of recommendations derived from their sessions that touch on insecurity, unemployment, and promotion of national unity.
“You can agree with me, Sir, that the youth population and the youth constituency is going through several challenges of which we will be looking to see how we can resolve these issues and also support President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and his Renewed Hope Agenda,” Uwakwe stated.
Hon. Uwakwe’s remarks were reinforced by those of his colleagues – Hon. Dr. Elizabeth Idoko- Okogun ( former SA Youth Affairs, Venue), Hon. Hauwa Hassan Musa ( SA Youth Affairs, Bauchi), Hon. Olamide Lawal ( SA, Youth, Ogunwusi), and Hon. Daniel Obo ( SA Youth Mobilisation, Cross River).
Dr. Idoko-Okogun, a representative for the North Central States, reported that the retreat successfully developed practical frameworks for youth participation in reducing regional insecurity, emphasising the use of locally sourced facilitators termed “Imo products” which she said”underscored local capacity development.”
“We clearly have insecurity issues over there, and we’ve been able to decide through the retreat on how the youth can play a role in helping to decrease insecurity on that side,” she noted with Hon. Musa speaking in the same vein.
Hon. Lawal extensively commended Governor Uzodimma for the significant infrastructural development and security improvements witnessed in Imo State.
Hon. Lawal said he thought it was only his Governor, Dapo Abiodun of Ogun State who has a knack for quality of facilities until he came to Imo State and moved round to see for himself what it means for infrastructure to be qualitative.
He acknowledged the Governor for tackling federal roads, boosting tourism, and implementing worker-friendly policies.
In his remarks, Hon Obo particularly
praised the Governor for his digital youth empowerment scheme. He noted its foundational role for future development, and commended the high minimum wage the Governor pays to Imo workers, among other things he has done.
The highpoint of the visit was the presentation of gift to the Governor by the Forum as their Patron.
In a related development, the leadership of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), led by the National President, Comrade Olushola Oladoja paid a solidarity visit to the Governor and equally presented him with birthday gifts to mark his 67th birthday.
NANS used the opportunity of its 88th Senate Meeting hosted in Owerri which coincided with Senator Uzodimma’s birthday to pay the solidarity visit.
Comrade Oladoja was joined by the Imo State Commissioner for Youths and Talent Hunt, Dr. Mandela Ukaegbu and the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Student Engagement, Comrade Asefon Sunday.
During the visit, they used the opportunity to congratulate Governor Uzodimma on his new appointment by President Tinubu as APC Renewed Hope Ambassador and equally commended him for taking Imo to
a giant leap on infrastructure development, stressing, “Imo is now wearing a new look.”
The NANS President had told Governor Uzodimma who was represented by the Deputy Governor, Lady Chinyere Ekomaru that their Senate meeting in Owerri had resolved all issues relating to Student Union Government (SUG) leadership in Imo State.
Lady Ekomaru thanked the NANS delegates for the honour done the Governor and the birthday gift presented to him.
She described her boss as a Youth Friendly Governor who has done so much for the youths in Imo State in particular and Nigeria at large.
The Deputy Governor was joined to receive NANS delegation by the Secretary to the State Government, Chief Cosmas Iwu, the Chief of Staff to the Governor, Barr. Nnamdi Anyaehie, the Head of Service Imo State, Mrs. Chikaodi Emenalom and some members of the State Expanded Executive Council.
