As part of activities marking this year’s International Youth Day celebration, a Non Government Organization,under the aegis of Great Dawn Organization, has organised a two day capacity building for youths in Abia state, with the purpose of empowering the youth to take action for positive development.
The programme which was held in Umuahia, was tagged ” Growing in the midst of Turmoil GMT 002″, organized in commemoration of 2020 International Youth Day.
Cross section of participants at the youth day celebration
Delivering his speech on Youth Engagement for Global Action, the Executive Director, Great Dawn Organization, Mr Izuchukwu Izuchukwu, a Law undergraduate student of the American University, Yola,decried the inability for Nigerian youth to take action that could enable them impact their society positively.
Mr Izuchukwu Izuchukwu, Executive Director,Great Dawn Org.
According to Mr Izuchukwu, this year’s theme is apt, as it stands as a wake up call for our youth to take corresponding action that could bring changes in the society.
He lamented that an average Nigerian youth finds it difficult to strategically position to take actions that could make meaningful impact in the society.
The Executive Director, blatantly condemned the crave for fast cash among the youths, saying that our society is still a religious one that promotes handwork and diligence above slothfulness.
He said youths should shun in entirety, unlawful means of making money, but seek to profer solutions to existing problems through veritable ventures.
As a way of advise, he enjoined the youth to be calm, focus,resolute and consistent in whatever positive action they take, as when sustained, could be translated to a global action.
In his lecture, the Project Coordinator, Abia Newmap, Engr Izuchukwu Onwughara, who spoke on the topic ” Mentoring/Coaching, said no one can take action or actualize his vision without the help of a mentor, stating that a mentor is there to improve,motivate,coach and inspire you, so you can improve and develop on your performance, as well as career.
Interacting with National Ambassador, Engr Onwughara said Nigerian youth are not well positioned for action.
According to him, our youths are weak, docile and lazy, they do not understand their roles, rights and are unwilling to engage themselves.
He said before the topic for this year’s celebration can be actualized, youths must first of all engage themselves in family action, community action,state action, as well as national action before talking about Global action.
Onwughara maintained that youths should think what they can do for their immediate environment first, as that alone could be translated to global action if consistent, adding that when a youth is unable to take action at the family level, how then can he take a global action.
However, he, advised the youth to wake up to their goal, identify the problem of their immediate environment and contribute towards it.
Another Keynote speaker, Ms Christine Vihishima,a 25years old Executive Director of Thinking Cap Literacy Initiative and a Personal Finance coach, said the whole essence of the capacity building was to help the youth position themselves properly for positive impact in the society.
Sharing her life experiences and how she overcame redundancy, said youths should stop complaining and take up the responsibility of enforcing the needed change in Nigeria.
According to her, Nigerian youth rely so much on the government and political office holders and get frustrated when these leaders do not meet their expectations.
She called on the youth to rise up and position themselves with the right knowledge and skill to take over, adding that they should seek how they can make a difference rather than sit and watch the eldely make the difference.
While urging them to be determined and bold in their approach,urged them to be disciplined, avoid wasteful habits,as well as be ready to start small and employ healthy financial habits.
Cross section of participants at the youth day celebration
Highpoint of the event, was a group talk by the participants on the way forward and the presentation of certificate of participation.
