In commemoration of the 2016 Akwa Ibom International Youth Day celebration, the Commissioner for Special Duties, Engineer Etido Inyang, has urged youths in the state to work towards their self-actualisation and development in order to take advantage of the opportunities being created by the administration of Governor Udom Emmanuel.Engr. Inyang, who was a Special Guest of Honour at the event, said “this year’s theme - Road to 2030: Eradicating Poverty and Achieving Sustainability, is not just strategically significant to today’s world but clearly addresses the very core of present day woes.
“This theme which resonates the vision of Governor Udom Emmanuel’s administration and his 5-Point Agenda, unequivocally defines the solutions to the global downturns, a situation that is in dire need of interventions.”
He maintained that Governor Udom Emmanuel had been undeterred and resolute in his quest towards eradicating poverty and achieving sustainability of his policy thrust.
The Commissioner for Special Duties stressed that “the best approach in steering this road map to 2030 is not just industrialisation, but aggressive industrialisation and youth empowerment.”
He said further: “In taking advantage of this vast opportunities created for youths in the state by the Udom Emmanuel-led administration, it is therefore imperative that every youth should reorientate his mindset, become focused, determined, optimistic, proactive and sober in their daily routine and approach to life. As youth, there is urgent need to eschew all forms of distractions and destructive ventures and channel our resources and creativity toward self-development and actualisation.”
While appealing to the youth to “rise up to the faith of their destiny and turn the prevailing challenges in the world to an opportunity for greatness and generational relevance,” Engr. Inyang stressed that the present world only beckoned on youths who were solution providers, trailblazers and talents explorers.
In his remark, the transition chairman of Ikot Ekpene Local Government Council, Mr. David Umana, commended the effort of the Supervisor for Youth and Sports, Prince Samuel Ukut, in making the event, which he described as one with a humble beginning, a success.
Mr. Umana tasked the youth of Ikot Ekpene to be God-fearing and law abiding in striving “to make it in life,” adding that in whatever they do, posterity would judge.
In his welcome address, the Supervisor for Youth and Sports, Prince Samuel Ukut, described youth as untapped reservoirs of talents that must be given the right tools to express their opinions and unlock their potentiality.
“When we give youth voice in politics and in public life, orient their school-to-work transition, strengthen their skills and facilitate their access to decent jobs… they can play their full part in building stronger and more inclusive communities. Simply put, empowering young people and ensuring their participation at all levels will help them shape a better and more equitable future for us all,” he emphasised.
He assured the youth of Governor Udom Emmanuel’s strong commitment to addressing the plethora of youth inadequacies, maintaining that “there were clear indications to this direction.”
Prince Ukut said “the process will take effort and time, patience and doggedness, especially facing the monster of political landing, stronghold of negativity, from insecurity to cultism and sundry activities, but we believe that it is possible, and yes, we can.”
“The youth should just accept the laudable programmes of the Udom Emmanuel’s administration. They should be open and vulnerable to the positive impact of the information we are bringing to bare,” he stressed.
He further called on the youth to forge new partnerships with supportive senior citizens and join efforts in eliminating all barriers that impaired their progress as young people.
Speaking on what he tagged Stop Thinking of Landing, Think Empowerment, the resource person, a foremost Nollywood actor and Special Assistant to Governor Udom Emmanuel on Agriculture, Mr. Moses Armstrong, tasked the youth on the need to imbibe the culture of togetherness.
In a goodwill message from the Special Assistant to the Governor on Youth Matters, Comrade Aniefiok Iwaudofia, said “Governor Udom Emmanuel deserves our continued supports and encouragements for the realisation of all his 5-Point Agenda. His tireless and unrelenting efforts of making Akwa Ibom State an industrial hub should be applauded by all.”
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