Efio-Ita Nyok|13 August 2016
Yesterday 12 August was United Nations International Youth Day with the theme 'Road to 2030: Eradicating Poverty and Achieving Sustainable Consumption and Production'. The President of Cross River State Leadership Academy, Mr Joseph Coco-Bassey, a renowned youth activist charged the youth to shun social vices which militate against success in life and resourceful appropriation of virtues.
President Coco-Bassey particularly highlighted cultism and pro-violence activities that undermines peace especially considering the fact that some elements in society employ youth to perpetuate violence. He also observed that youth serve to replace a worn out system that helps to reinvigorate the economy. For Coco-Bassey, peace in society is a sine qua non to 'eradicating poverty and achieving sustainable consumption and production'.
In his words which reads in part, 'I wish to enjoin all the young people all over the world especially Cross Riverians to stay away from cultism, violence and always seek peace and peaceful coexistence'.
'Youths serve as the immediate replacement for our worn out system and prime movers of the system and economy. With this in mind, negative vices and tendencies will endanger the positive development of the people and in turn the society. The 2016 International Youth day celebration should be used as a day of reflection on positive contributions and ideas youths of our dear state can make in helping, developing and emancipating our people, state and nation', he continued.
'We should remember that our great and reverenced nationalist were all youths that one way or the other affected the lives and aspirations of our people. I will enjoin us to seek the real meaning of the motto of the National Youth Council of Nigeria which is, "Build the youths! Build the nation! Yes We can do it if we really want to. I wish to appreciate men who had led the struggle in our dear state and promise in the words of our National Anthem and I quote, 'The Labour if our Hero's past, Shall never be in vain', I do pledge. Happy Celebration', he further charged.
Efio-Ita Nyok
Is a Blogger & the Editor of Negroidhaven.org (Negroid Haven)
