…𝙀𝙢𝙥𝙤𝙬𝙚𝙧𝙨 𝙔𝙤𝙪𝙩𝙝𝙨 𝙒𝙞𝙩𝙝 𝙋𝙤𝙎 𝙈𝙖𝙘𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙚𝙨
It was a moment of fruitful deliberation and recognition of hardwork, as youths of Anambra State, under the umbrella of the National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN), Anambra State Chapter, held their 𝙔𝙤𝙪𝙩𝙝 𝙄𝙣𝙣𝙤𝙫𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙫𝙚 𝘽𝙪𝙨𝙞𝙣𝙚𝙨𝙨 𝙀𝙢𝙥𝙤𝙬𝙚𝙧𝙢𝙚𝙣𝙩 𝙎𝙪𝙢𝙢𝙞𝙩 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙀𝙭𝙩𝙧𝙖𝙤𝙧𝙙𝙞𝙣𝙖𝙧𝙮 𝘼𝙘𝙝𝙞𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙨 𝘼𝙬𝙖𝙧𝙙, for the year 2023.
Themed “𝙃𝙖𝙧𝙣𝙚𝙨𝙨𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙂𝙡𝙤𝙗𝙖𝙡 𝘽𝙪𝙨𝙞𝙣𝙚𝙨𝙨 𝙊𝙥𝙥𝙤𝙧𝙩𝙪𝙣𝙞𝙩𝙞𝙚𝙨 𝙏𝙝𝙧𝙤𝙪𝙜𝙝 𝙄𝙣𝙣𝙤𝙫𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣, 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙎𝙪𝙨𝙩𝙖𝙞𝙣𝙖𝙗𝙞𝙡𝙞𝙩𝙮 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙎𝙪𝙧𝙫𝙞𝙫𝙖𝙡 𝙤𝙛 𝙏𝙤𝙙𝙖𝙮’𝙨 𝙀𝙘𝙤𝙣𝙤𝙢𝙞𝙘 𝘾𝙝𝙖𝙡𝙡𝙚𝙣𝙜𝙚𝙨 𝙞𝙣 𝙉𝙞𝙜𝙚𝙧𝙞𝙖”, the event, which was held on Saturday at Awka, the Anambra State capital attracted youths from different parts of the State, academics, as well as captains of industries and political office holders, among other participants.
Delivering a lecture at the event, the Guest Speaker and Director, UNIZIK Business School, 𝙋𝙧𝙤𝙛. 𝙀𝙢𝙢𝙖 𝙊𝙠𝙤𝙮𝙚, who gave overviews of the key concepts on the theme, said Nigeria is performing poorly and lagging behind in harnessing opportunities through innovation, which, he said, is reflecting on the country’s economic situation. He highlighted the various global ratings on innovation, economic performance and sustainability, in which, he said, Nigeria has performed poorly, even despite being the Giant of Africa.
According to him, some of the reasons why many smaller African countries perform better than Nigeria in many global ratings hinge on their formidable institutions, infrastructure, market sophistication (linkage between some industries and higher institutions), as well as educational system, among others. “At least, 26% of a nation’s budget should be for education. But in Nigeria, the figure is usually between 5% and 6%. And that is part of the reasons we are having the issues we are having in this country,” he said.
He further harped on the need for business owners, artisans, and others to go online, become ICT compliant, join cooperatives, explore emerging opportunities, keep innovating new products and approaches that keep adding values to their customers, and also put their trust in God.
Earlier in his address of welcome, the State Chairman of the NYCN, 𝘼𝙢𝙗. 𝙎𝙪𝙧𝙫. 𝙊𝙗𝙞 𝙀𝙢𝙚𝙠𝙖 said the event was aimed at providing solution and answers to challenges that the youths face in their day-to-day business engagement, moulding the youths for a better future, as well as recognizing some individuals who have done well in supporting and promoting the affairs of the youths for a better society. He also appreciated those who contributed in one way or the other to the success of the event, while also urging the youths to remain steadfast in achieving their dreams.
Also speaking, the Minister of Women Affairs, 𝘽𝙖𝙧𝙧. 𝙈𝙧𝙨. 𝙐𝙟𝙪 𝙆𝙚𝙣𝙣𝙚𝙙𝙮 𝙊𝙝𝙖𝙣𝙚𝙣𝙮𝙚, who was an awardee at the event, condemned the rate of get it quick syndrome among the youths in the society today.
While assuring that government still has the interest of the youths at heart, 𝘽𝙖𝙧𝙧. 𝙊𝙝𝙖𝙣𝙚𝙣𝙮𝙚, represented by 𝘿𝙧. 𝙉𝙬𝙖𝙘𝙝𝙪𝙠𝙬𝙪 𝙊𝙗𝙞𝙖𝙠𝙤𝙧, however urged the youths to also embrace skills acquisition and dream to be self-reliant, rather than depending solely on the government. The Minister further urged the youths to be diligent, steadfast, and good ambassadors of the State and the Nigeria at large.
On his own part, the Anambra State Police Commissioner, 𝘾𝙋 𝘼𝙙𝙚𝙧𝙚𝙢𝙞 𝘼𝙙𝙚𝙤𝙮𝙚, represented by the Operations Officer of the Command, 𝘾𝙎𝙋 𝙒𝙞𝙡𝙡𝙞𝙖𝙢 𝙊𝙙𝙪𝙢𝙪 reminded the youths that the future of the country lie in their hands. He, however, regretted that some youths in the country now deviate from the expected norms in society and go into illegal activities that constitute problems and challenges in the country, such as criminality, cultism, cybercrime, among others. He further advised the youths to always dream to be solution providers in the society, rather than being parts of the problems to be solved.
The event also featured the investiture and decoration of the MD/CEO of the Pool King Global Investment Ltd., 𝙈𝙧. 𝙂𝙖𝙗𝙧𝙞𝙚𝙡 𝘾𝙝𝙪𝙠𝙬𝙪𝙣𝙬𝙚𝙣𝙙𝙪 as the Anambra Youth Commander, whom in his remarks shortly after the decoration, described youths as the powerhouse of every society. He recalled how he relocated his investment from Abuja to Anambra, his home-state, because of his love for his state and his interest to also make impact in his own State; even as he urged every Anambra youth to always aspire to make impacts and contribute positively in the society.
On his part, one of the awardees at the event and Anambra State Commissioner for Environment, 𝙀𝙣𝙜𝙧. 𝙁𝙚𝙡𝙞𝙭 𝙊𝙙𝙞𝙢𝙚𝙜𝙬𝙪 informed the youths that the world is full of opportunities and possibilities, adding that there is much to attain, for any youth who is focused and dedicated. According to him, the future truly belongs to the youths, but the advocacy and foundation for the better future should start today, even as the youths themselves ought be active and participatory in shaping their dreamed future. He also emphasized the need to maintain a very clean and healthy environment at all times, as, according to him, environmental concerns and sustainability should be everybody’s business.
In their separate remarks, CEO Falcon-Nest Project Ltd, Ambassador Ifechi Clement Martins, Engr. Emmanuel Uzodigwe Nwanwuba and President General, Umueri, Dr. John Metchie commended the group for the award and pledged continous partnernership to empower the youths.
Others who graced the occasion include the Transition Committee Chairman for Awka South Local Government Area, 𝙈𝙧. 𝙏𝙝𝙖𝙣𝙠𝙂𝙤𝙙 𝘼𝙣𝙖𝙜𝙤𝙧; the Permanent Secretary of the State Ministry of Youths, 𝘿𝙧. 𝘿𝙖𝙣𝙞𝙚𝙡 𝙀𝙯𝙚𝙖𝙣𝙬𝙪; the Ag. National Youth Leader of Ohaneze Ndị Igbo Worldwide (Youth Wing), 𝙈𝙖𝙯𝙞 𝘾𝙝𝙪𝙠𝙬𝙪𝙢𝙖 𝙊𝙠𝙥𝙖𝙡𝙖𝙚𝙯𝙚𝙪𝙠𝙬𝙪; a representative of the Department of State Service (DSS) in Anambra, 𝘽𝙖𝙧𝙧. 𝙅𝙤𝙨𝙚𝙥𝙝 𝙊𝙠𝙚𝙘𝙝𝙞; the President of Anambra State Association of Town Union (ASATU) Youth Wing, 𝘾𝙤𝙢𝙧𝙖𝙙𝙚 𝙆𝙚𝙣 𝙊𝙠𝙤𝙡𝙞, among other personalities and groups.
Aside lectures and interactive sessions, the summit also featured presentation of awards and conferment of titles to some of the guests and other deserving individuals, including the Chairman of the Chisco Group of Companies, 𝘾𝙝𝙞𝙚𝙛 𝘾𝙝𝙞𝙙𝙞 𝘼𝙣𝙮𝙖𝙚𝙜𝙗𝙪; the President General of Umueri, 𝘿𝙧. 𝙅𝙤𝙝𝙣 𝙈𝙚𝙩𝙘𝙝𝙞𝙚; the CEO, Falcon-Nest Project Ltd., 𝘼𝙢𝙗𝙖𝙨𝙨𝙖𝙙𝙤𝙧 𝙄𝙛𝙚𝙘𝙝𝙞 𝘾𝙡𝙚𝙢𝙚𝙣𝙩 𝙈𝙖𝙧𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙨; and the CEO, Rest Assured Resort & Hotels, Umunze, 𝙈𝙧. 𝘽𝙞𝙜𝙜𝙚𝙧 𝙄𝙗𝙚𝙠𝙬𝙚.
The CEO, Vheluks Nig. Ltd., 𝙈𝙧. 𝙃𝙚𝙣𝙧𝙮 𝙀𝙯𝙚𝙖𝙣𝙞; the CEO, Anesta Farms and Agro Allied Industry Nig. Ltd., 𝙃𝙤𝙣. 𝙎𝙩𝙖𝙣𝙞𝙨𝙡𝙖𝙪𝙨 𝙉𝙣𝙖𝙠𝙖; the CEO, Alpha Investment Nig. Ltd., 𝘾𝙝𝙞𝙚𝙛 𝙄𝙛𝙚𝙨𝙞𝙣𝙖𝙘𝙝𝙞 𝙄𝙗𝙚𝙣𝙚𝙢𝙚; 𝘾𝙝𝙞𝙚𝙛 𝙊𝙠𝙤𝙣𝙢𝙖 𝘽𝙤𝙗 𝙀𝙢𝙢𝙖𝙣𝙪𝙚𝙡 𝘾𝙝𝙪𝙠𝙬𝙪𝙚𝙢𝙚𝙠𝙖; 𝙀𝙣𝙜𝙧. 𝙀𝙢𝙢𝙖𝙣𝙪𝙚𝙡 𝙐𝙯𝙤𝙙𝙞𝙜𝙬𝙚, were also awarded at the event, among others.
Brand new PoS machines and cash seed donated by the CEO of De Graceland Homes Ltd., 𝘾𝙝𝙞𝙚𝙛 𝙊𝙠𝙤𝙡𝙞 𝙊𝙠𝙚𝙘𝙝𝙪𝙠𝙬𝙪 𝙇𝙤𝙫𝙚𝙙𝙖𝙮, for the empowerment of the youths were also distributed to the beneficiaries at the well-attended 2023 youth summit.
Develop the Youth !! Develop the Nation !!!
