Ikpeazu urges Abia youths to be self-reliant, pledges to support Red Cross

Governor Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia State has charged youths of the South-East state to acquire skills in order to become self-reliant and make meaningful contributions to the growth of the society.
Ikpeazu gave the charge on Friday during an event organised as part of events to begin commemoration of the 2018 International Youth Day celebration, themed “Safe Spaces for Youths”, in Umuahia.
International Youth Day is marked anually on August 12.
According to him, this is the best time for youths to be equipped with skills, considering the challenge of unemployment facing the nation.
Ikpeazu said that the International Youth Day celebration provided  an opportunity for youths to engage in sober reflection on the way forward.
He urged Abia youths  to take advantage of the numerous skills acquisition centres in the state, to get empowered with skills like modern tailoring, shoemaking and carpentry, among others.
In his remark,  Chief Ike Anyatonwu, the Commissioner for Youth Development, described the day as a milestone in the bid to promote youth empowerment in Abia.
Anyatonwu said that the state government had inaugurated a Council of Community Youth Leadership programme in order to empower  youths at the grassroots.
Earlier, Mr Lucky Igbokwe, the Chairman of the occasion, urged youths to take their destiny in their own hands by engaging in productive ventures.
Igbokwe called on youths to embrace peaceful means in resolving issues, and to desist from violence.
Mr Obioma Ubani, the President of Council of Community Youths (CCYA), Abia State, said the group was delighted and honoured to serve the people of Abia.
Ubani said that CCYA would assist the state government through its activities to reduce crime, drug abuse, sexual harassment and other social vices in the communities.

Meanwhile, Ikpeazu has pledged to support the Nigeria Red Cross Society (NRCS) to actualise its aims and objectives toward assisting the vulnerable members of the society.
Ikpeazu made the pledge during his investiture as the state Grand Patron of NRCS at the Government House, Umuahia.
He said that, “we are mindful of the vulnerable members of our society and we will do our best to support them, by evolving policies and programmes that will help to perform this responsibility. “
Ikpeazu said that this was one of the ways through which Abia government could achieve its aim of contributing to the improvement of life expectancy in the state and nation at large.
In his remark, Mr Bolaji Anani, the National President of NRCS, said that the organisation was keen in collaborating with state governments that initiated programmes which aligned with the vision of the Society.
Anani commended the state government for facilitating numerous initiatives that were focused on saving lives of the people of the state.
In an interview with newsmen, Mr Emeka Ubani, Chairman of NRCS in the state, said that the Society would collaborate with Abia government in giving community, training on first aid.
“We are the experts, we are trained in first aid. They have the materials but don’t have enough personnel to manage them.
“We have enough officers that can provide first aid, which can go round the entire state and we want to collaborate with Abia government in this area”, Ubani said.