By Eubaldus Enahoro
Edo State Government is set to commence the introduction of Exchange Programmes for the training and retraining of youths in the state to redirect their focus positively.
The Commissioner for Youth and Humanitarian Affairs, Hon. Zubairu Dada Abubakar disclosed this when the State Coordinator, National Youth Service Corp, Oladeinde Foluke (Mrs.) led the management team of the Corp on a familiarization visit to the Commissioner in his office in Benin City.
“We are working with Edo citizens in the United States of America to introduce programmes for youths in Benin, Owan, Esan and Afemai to assist them with scholarships and remote jobs that will make it possible for them to work from here,” he noted.
According to him, ” We are going to start with 18 youths, one per local government and later, one per ward across the state.”
“As a Ministry, our primary assignment is to give youths hope, to rekindle confidence in them. We know the problems of the youths ranging from Cultism, Cybercrime and drug abuse, especially now, because of the economy .
” We know that not all of the youths are bad, but the good ones live in the same society. The only way we can curb peer pressure is to do what we can to positively affect their lives and to redirect their focus appropriately”.
The Commissioner who is the Chairman, Governing Board, NYSC, said the only way this can be done is to build their hopes and let them see a bright future, adding that, they are leaders of today and with that hope in their mind they will be positively focused instead of being negative.
” On my visit to Abuja, I was at the Ministry of Youth, Ministry of Humanitarian and the Ministry for Niger Delta Development, where I met with the Ministers, all to address youth matters by way of empowerment, training and retraining and exchange programmes,” he added.
While noting that the Ministry is open to ideas that will move youths forward in the state, the Commissioner assured that the immediate needs and projects in the permanent camp of the NYSC will be addressed.
The Edo State Coordinator, NYSC, Oladeinde Foluke (Mrs.) expressed appreciation to the Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki for the appointment of the Commissioner which she noted was “a right peg in the right hole.”
“When I went through your background I discovered that you have done a lot for the youths in the state.
“You have been contributing your quota to the development of Youths at the grassroot level and for the few weeks you have been in office as Commissioner, we have seen the passion you have for the youths especially when you defiled the rain to join us during the passing out of the Youth Corp members recently.
The NYSC Coordinator presented a painting made by a Corp member and a greeting card to the Commissioner during the visit.
