Charles Ekanem|13 August 2017
In the just concluded conference organised by the Cross River State Ministry of Youth and Sports in commemoration of the 2017 International Youth Day themed 'Youths building peace', the Director General of Cross River State Primary Healthcare Development Agency, Dr Betta Edu, has condemned the abuse of substance and resort to violence by a section of Nigerian youths NegroidHaven has garnered. She made this known in her address to youths of Cross River last week.
Cross River State Ministry of Youth and Sport with the support of CUSO, UNFPA and other development partners marked the 2017 International Youth Day at Transcorp Hotel, Calabar with the theme "peace Building" and focus on Exploring the entrepreneurship potentials in the non-oil Natural Resources Sector.
Reflecting on the gains of youth in Cross River State Honorable Commissioner for youth and Sport, Comrade Asu Okang said the State had develop a youth policy document from the first Youth Multi-Sectoral program that is in tandem with the national policy to create a roadmap for youth employment and engagement in sectors like climate change, Health, Agriculture and ICT that will cost the State 6 billion Naira with the support of partners like World bank, CUSO and UNFPA. He said the program is targeted to create employment for the youth and His Excellency, Senator ( Prof) Ben Ayade will be launching it in the second week of September.
He went further to state that already 5,000 young people have been selected to be paid 7,500 Naira every month on the YESSO World bank program were youth will be engage for one hour everyday.
Comrade Okang said the State Governor has created a platform for the young people in the State by involving youth in his cabinet and running of his administration.
He said the State is against cultism and urged youth to take advantage of amnesty by surrendering their arms and living up to expectation in the society.
Also Speaking, DG Cross River State Primary Healthcare Development Agency, Dr Betta Edu said its unfortunate that youths do not hold key and vital positions in the country or contribute to key decision making in the country. Nigeria should learn from Governor Ayade.
She said she fully supports the NOT TOO YOUNG TO RUN BILL because it will create more opportunities for young people with energy, vitality, innovation, creativity and solutions to address the needs of Nigeria.
Dr Edu said the health of young people is also one aspect that is very important as the youth should be aware of HIV, Hepatitis, unwanted pregnancy, Sexually Transmitted Diseases and must protect themselves.
She used the opportunity to call on every youth to improve their capacity whether by going to school or learning a trade while also advising them to shun drug abuse as the rate of insecurity in Nigeria and States are strongly linked with use of hard drugs, weed and other dangerous substances that make the "high", unreasonable and violent.
"As young people we must be organize, responsible and show capacity; leading from where you are now!!"
Finally she advised the youth to shun rape and embrace peace.
Present at the event were Prof Augustine Angba, Rector Institute of Technology and Management (ITM) Ugep, who gave a powerful lecture, DG due process who informed youths of the legal implications of violence and hard drugs, Rep of CUSO International representative of UNFPA, Yakubu Aliyu and Girls Power Initiative. NYCN State Chairman Comrade Ndiyo Ndiyo, Permanent Secretary Ministry of Youth & sport. S.A Sports, S.A Monitoring, S.A intelligence etc
Charles Ekanem
Is a Health Reporter
