Wife of Cross River Governor, Dr. Linda Ayade says her office is to collaborate with the Ministry of Women Affairs to train youth volunteers to help them cope in the face of the current economic challenge Nigeria is facing.
The first Lady of Cross River represented by her Special Assistant on Finance, Mrs Philomena Inyang who made this known in Calabar, last Friday during a press briefing to mark World Youth Day added that “when youths have opportunity to volunteer, the gap of work experience would be eliminated.”
In an address read world wide by United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) to commemorate the world youth day, Mr. Kenua Eheuzu, head of UNFPA suboffice in Cross River represented by his assistant, Mr. Lanre Alabi worried that more than 500million youth worldwide lived in poverty and often cannot afford their basic needs adding that they lacked access to vital resources “and are disproportionately represented amongst the world’s poor.”
UNFPA said it was currently partnering with young people in more than 150 countries and territories around the world to promote their participation and leadership, “enabling them to overcome barriers, spearhead innovations and unleash their full potential.”
On his part, acting Chairman of the Association of Online Media Practitioners of Nigeria (AMPON) in the South South region of Nigeria, Mr. Obaji Akpet worried on the alarming statistics that youths constitute mostly the over 60% national poverty prevalence of the Nigerian population.
Akpet argued that for the poverty ratio to be adequately tackled the country must move from seeing youths as just youths alone but useful development partners while minimizing the gap of dependence in the country.
Also speaking, the Commissioner for Youths and Sports Development, Mr. Atsu Okang said the state with the help of Cuso NGO was developing a policy framework for the youths of the states.
On his part, the state chairman of Nigerian Youth Council, Prince Ndiyo Ndiyo lauded the state government for the all youth inclusive venture of accommodating young people in the current Ayade led dispensation.
The press briefing also featured participation from the NYSC, Girls Power Initiative (GPI), After School Peer Education, Planned Parenthood Federation of Nigeria, amongst others.
