Edo State Ministry of Youths and Humanitarian Affairs have recently held her first International Youth Day Colloquium in Abudu, the administrative headquarter of Orhionmwon Local Government Area of Edo State.
Charging the participants at the three day camp meeting, the state Commissioner for Youths and Humanitarian Affairs, Hon Chris Osa Nehikhare said, “this is the maiden edition and it is targetted at adjusting the mindset of the youths in Edo State”.
Nehikhare, said this at the end of the boot camp which was part of the activities lined up by the state government in commemoration to the 2022 International Youth Day.
The commissioner stated that the present administration in the state had done was directly investing on the youths, adding that the empowerment of the youth was directly proportional to the growth of the society.
“This is one of the underlining rationales for organising the event and it is our belief that the beneficiaries will imbibe the necessary knowledge garnered that will enable them be positive change agents which will be reflective in both principle as well as character and become the culture among them.
He noted that the state government committed resources to the event believing that the expected return on the investment would be the impact to be made by the youths in the paths of life they chose to follow or the paths they chose to create.
“Whatever the case, I urge you to leave indelible footprints that will be a legacy for your generation and a memorial for the generations coming after you.
“It is our hope that leaders will emerge from this event and become ambassadors of the new narrative that we seek to instil in today’s youths”, the commissioner said.
Nehikhare explained that the objective of the Colloquium/boot camp was to drive and instil key universal values on youths and young people of the state so that their actions would be realigned to more positive productive ventures in their chosen career paths.
He added that in view of this, the event was structured in a way that resource persons from various field and sectors of the economy were brought in to speak to participants on diverse topics.
Also speaking, Mr Ayeni Ekundayo, who was the keynote speaker said, “the government is not responsible for who you are now. They have created the platform for you already. It is now your choice to pursue what you want. Whether assets or liabilities.
“If you want to go global, learn skills sell in the internet. Development yourself into leadership, it takes you to the top.
“It’s nice to organise programs, but it’s another thing to get the desired result. So, from this camp, we expect massive change from among you.
“Your governor is serious about you. When we were to set up the Edo Hub, we were wrongly directed here, instead of ICE. What we saw here then, when compared to what we have here now, you will see that the governor, Mr Godwin Obaseki is having a future for you young ones in Edo”, he said.
On his part, a film maker and a Nollywood star, Philip Asaya said, “Nigeria youths have declined the blessings of the land because they have refused to serve in truth and faith”.
He encourages the youths not just to recite the Nigerian National Anthem as a song, but to also see it as a reminder to uphold “peace and unity.”
The resource person, Habiba Balogun who spoke on the theme of the program, “RESETTING OUR FUTURE, EMPOWERING OUR YOUTHS” said “emotional intelligence and social contract are two vital part any society to excel”.
She described social contract as the ultimate binding force of any nation.
Other guests present at the event were Mrs Ifueko Alufokhai, the permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Youths and Humanitarian Affairs in Edo State, Mrs Uwa Osawe, Osayuwamen Aladesenu the Edo State focal person on Special Intervention Program, SIP, and Comrade Osahon Obasuyi the Chairman of the National Youth Council of Nigeria, NYCN, Edo State Council.
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