Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq has urged Nigerian youths to shun all forms of vice and to continue to be peaceful and engage in activities that drive them towards their life goals.
Speaking in Ilorin at an event to commemorate International Youth Day, he specifically hailed Kwara youths for always choosing peace against chaos and hope over despair in response to some national events.
“As we celebrate International Youth Day today, I expect that you will leave this gathering with better insights and resolve on how to become greater through education, ethical use of the new media, hard work, productive engagements, and positive thinking,” Governor Abdulrazaq, who is also Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, NGF, stated.
He was represented by the Commissioner for Environment and Forestry, Nafisat Musa Buge.
“I also want you to pick the right network of friends and choose a brighter future, dignity and self-respect, and good health over hard drugs, crimes, and the humiliation that comes with it,” he said.
The governor said International Youth Day is celebrated every 12th of August to recognise the relevance, power, potential, and contributions of young people to our world.
The theme for this year is “From Clicks to Progress: Youth Digital Pathways for Sustainable Development.”
The programme was organised by the state Ministry of Youth Development and attended by youths across different segments.
It featured paper presentations by three personalities, including the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Community Development, Dr Lawal Olohungbebe; Dr Tayo Simon Arinde from the University of Ilorin; and a former Commissioner of Information in the state, Mr Ben Dutoye.
Governor AbdulRazaq thanked the youths in the state for choosing the path of peace during the last national protest, pledging that his administration will continue to prioritise programmes. and projects that will give them a fair shot at life.
“I am particularly proud of how you all chose peace over chaos and hope over despair in response to some national events. Your response has become a national reference for how young people handle sensitive issues. I assure you that our administration will continue to prioritise programmes, projects, and initiatives that give young people a fair shot at life,” he said.
He noted that the theme of the event aligns with his administration’s commitment to empowering youths and harnessing their potential to drive sustainable development by leveraging sound education, technology, and the new media.
“If you look critically at many of our projects and programmes, you can see how they have been conceived to offer you a brighter future. From the Innovation Hub, Sugar Film Factory, Visual Arts Centre, Garment Factory, and a few others, we are clear-eyed about what we want for our young people in line with global trends,” he said.
“As we gather here, we have public school students enrolled in our free summer coding and digital literacy classes across the three senatorial districts. The idea is to empower them with the right skill sets and the orientation to thrive in the digital age.”
Dr Olohungbebe, in his presentation, tasked the youths to always make themselves available for community services, even if such engagements earn them no kobo, saying posterity will reward them one day.
He decried the rate at which some youths are fond of using social media to expose only negativities in their surroundings or about their leaders and advised them to turn a new leaf.
Dr Arinde, in his submission, eulogised Governor AbdulRazaq for his administration’s disposition and unwavering commitment to youth development, adding that the digital pathway is the turning point for youth development and sustainability.
Duntoye, in his remarks, said youths in the state have had it so good under the administration of Governor AbdulRazaq and commended how the government continues to engage the youth meaningfully.
He requested the government and wealthy individuals adequately support volunteer groups in society, saying the spirit of volunteerism is dying because the volunteers don’t get the needed support.
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