By Abu Micheal
Worried over the alarming dwindling economy in Nigeria, Kogi state commissioner of Information and Communications, Kingsley Fanwo has called on the future leaders across the country to embrace agriculture and vocational trades for self sustaining.
The Commissioner who made the plea while speaking at an Award Ceremony organised by the Kogi Youth Alliance in Lokoja on Monday, said that the call became imperative as White Collar jobs are not available under the prevailing depressed economy in the country.
The commissioner who was represented by the Senior Special Assistant to Governor Yahaya Bello on Public Relations, Abereoran Olusegun, declared that the only option left for the survival of Nigerian Youths is for them to go into agriculture and other vocational trades such as Tailoring, Fabrication, Painting/Decoration and Fashion and Design.
On the high level of insecurity ravalging the nation, the commissioner admonished the youths not to allow themselves to be used for selfish interest but shun acts that could lead to their untimely deaths.
In his welcome address, the President of the Group, Olufemi Temitope said the Youth Alliance deemed it necessary to confer Award of Excellence to eleven distinguished citizens of Kogi for their contributions towards Grassroots Development and other Humanitarian Services for improved condition of living.
“This is a yearly Programme of the Youth Alliance which started as far back as 1992 to give honour to whom it is due interms of contributing for the well-being of its immediate Society. As youths we need to appreciate those who are out in full force to uplift the living standard of the less privileged in the society” Temitope affirmed.
The Future Leaders were educated on “The Role of Youths In Nation Building, Especially Under Depressed Economy” being a lecture delivered by the Publisher of The Nigeria post Newspaper, Mr. Michael Abuh to give glamour to the Award Ceremony.
He added that the future of any nation rests on the shoulders of the youth. He noted that the values they inculcate and the qualities they possess today will inevitably be brought to bear on the nation tomorrow.
He said the knowledge, skills and principles which they have acquired over the years would be used as tools for the development or otherwise of the nation.
He described the youths as the ones who will meet the specific manpower needs of the nation. said the youths are the movers and shapers of the nation pointing out that Without them, the nation has no future, remains moribund and faces extinction if care is not taken.
According to him, ” Youths have a vital role to play in building this nation. They are catalysts that will jumpstart Nigeria’s economic greatness and propel national progress. Is it not true that as a nation, if Nigeria must become the true giant of Africa that it claims to be, the welfare and wellbeing of Nigeria youths must be and remain paramount in the minds of her leaders”.
The eleven beneficiaries of the Kogi Youth Alliance Award were; Engr. Bisi Ojuola, Engr. Philip Oloruntoba, Pharm Peace Joe, Mrs Fatima Suleiman, MrJ.O. Alomati, Engr Kehinde Adekonyin, Berikisu Sani, Elder J Olarewaju, Deji Ajare, Hon S.O Adeleye and Mr and Mrs Ayodele.
End.