As the Global Community celebrates this year’s International Youth Day, the Speaker of Anambra State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Somtochukwu Udeze has called for full implementation of the “Not Too Young To Run Bill” passed by the National Assembly, which former President Muhammadu Buhari signed into Law in 2018 to avail Nigerian Youth the opportunity to fully participate and aspire to any role in politics, governance and leadership.
In his goodwill message to the youth, Rt. Hon. Udeze appealed to government at different levels to endeavour to create a system that nurtures the talents of the youth and ensures their robust development as they grow into the leadership of the society, adding that the education, knowledge, technical skills and character of the youth will determine the future conditions of the nations.
Rt. Hon. Udeze who revealed that Governor Chukwuma Soludo had already empowered more than thirty six thousand (36,000) youths across the State with various skills, of which many youths have acquired digital skills, accessed grants amounting to 5.5 Billion Naira, started businesses as well as the ongoing one million Anambra Digital Tribe Initiative, commended the Governor for building a prosperous, inclusive and smart society where young people are equipped to thrive.
Rt Hon. Udeze maintained that the 8th Anambra Assembly under his watch has prioritized youth oriented Legislation and will continue to give issues affecting the youth of the State the utmost attention that they deserve, noting that the State Legislature had in 2020 Enacted a Law for the establishment of the State Youth Development and Empowerment Commission, while a Law to ensure that only youths between the ages eighteen and thirty five benefit from the youth development programmes in the State will soon be passed.
Ahead of the 2027 general elections, the Speaker reminded the youth of their critical role in shaping the future of the country, admonishing them to shun acts capable of jeopardizing their future such as drug abuse, rape, electoral vices, cultism among other negative social and immortal conducts.
