Thomas Abi Jr|14 August 2015|5:27am
On the 12th of August, 2000, the United Nations endorsed the International Youth Day which is celebrated each year which always comes with a theme. This year's International Youth Day theme was Youth Civic Engagement and after so much pondering on the theme I told myself that Cross River Youth will benefit more in this era. Why do I think so? I think so because the youth of Cross River State are better placed now having a youthful governor and most of the men in politics are all youth.
After pondering on the theme "Youth Civic Engagement" I put it to the youth of the State that with this year's theme which means a lot. We have nothing to worry about. The youth of the State are in a position to be self reliant, work on their skills and strive towards developmental struggles. The youth of the State need to position themselves into bringing about innovative ideas. Function very well in policy making as it affects them and create a soft landing for themselves.
Wednesday 12th August, remains a special day for the youth of the State and also me in particular as a young man who means well for the People of the State. After saying my morning devotion at about 6am. I picked up my phone to read through messages and check the dailies and I got the text from the Personal Assistant to the Governor on Youth Affairs, Mr. Paul Ajie inviting me to this year's invent at the EDC building for the international youth day. I was happy because our young men and women are beginning to get their rightful place in governance. The youth are beginning to get recognition as it regards appointments in the State.
I feel happy as a youth celebrating the world Youth Day. I am excited today and very joyous as the youth of the State are getting their due place in the politics of the State. Recently the State Governor, Prof. Ben Ayade appointed young men as his Personal Assistants on Youth Affairs, Media, Student Affairs and also a Special Assistant on Youth Affairs. It shows we are getting it right in the State. It further states that the capacity building we have longed for is already taking place.
The youth of the State need to be empower in the area of skill acquisition. Once our youth are empowered with the right skills, they will be able to contribute developmentally into the society and help improve and promote the giant strides of the State.
This year's theme is apt and very welcoming. I must applaud the those who tagged the theme "Youth Civic Engagement", the theme is simple and very straight forward. It reflects on the youth of Cross River State. Dealing with the issues of social vices as it pertains robbery, prostitution, kidnapping, snatching, pilfering and many activities that can present the youth of the State as social miscreants.
Recently the State Governor, Prof. Ben Ayade posited that he was going to create 1000 jobs through the green police and also build a garment factory. Very welcoming but in achieving one of the MDGs goals of "Eradication of extreme poverty" the State Governor and the relevant agencies must as a matter of urgency empower the youth on entrepreneurship and man power building.
In achieving a more stable and industrialized State, there is the need to provide youth mentorship on entrepreneurship. As we all know, mentorship is the basis for every successful youth. It is important that we note that we need to mentor our young people into great entrepreneurs.
In mentoring our young people and encouraging skills based jobs. The telecommunication companies such as MTN, GLO, AIRTEL, ETISALAT need to empower our young men and women by way of training them and subsequently empowering them as a way of meeting up their social reponsibility.
Also there is the need for the State to tap into the bank of industry and other financial institutions. By providing loans and grants to young men who have potentials in entrepreneurship.
In achieving the theme of this year's " Youth Civic Engagement". The EDC, ITF, Ministry of Youth Affairs have to speedily create a synergy with the Federal Ministry of Youth & Sports by working out ways on how the Youth of the State can fit in to programmes that can change the economy fortunes of the Cross River Youth.
Prince Thomas Abi Jr.
Is a Public Affairs Analyst /Social Commentator
