The Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) Mr. Ekpo Nta, has called on Nigerian youths to embrace government initiatives aimed at securing their economic future.
Mr. Nta made the call at a one- day Youth Summit, organized by the Youth Empowerment Solutions, a non-governmental Organization, in Abuja recently.
The Chairman of the Commission, represented by the Commissioner, Public Enlightenment of ICPC, Rasheedat Adunni Okoduwa mni, noted that programmes such as the Youth Enterprise With Innovation [YOUWIN], Subsidy Reinvestment and Empowerment Programme [SURE-P] Graduate Internship Scheme [GIS] among many others are opportunities for youths to write a more positive history for themselves.
“Although as lofty as these programmes are, they cannot achieve a more lasting impact if they are not backed by sound moral values, hence ICPC’s role in securing their future by curbing corruption in its entire ramification”. the Chairman emphasized.
The Chairman added that the focus on the youths stems from the fact that the youths are more vulnerable to corruption and corrupt acts.
He therefore charged them to task their minds and come up with ideas that would be beneficial to them and the society in general.
Guest speaker at the Summit, Mr. Femi Bamgboye, a banker, said youths constitute eighty percent of the population; hence the strength of the economy lies with them.
Bamgboye challenged them to find specific, attainable and relevant goals for themselves in order to actualizing their dream.
In his address, Prof. Yusuf Ogbaje pioneer Chancellor Bowen University, lamented that any country without a national ideology couldn’t attain national unity, transformation and youth empowerment.
He advised youths to take interest in the affairs of the country and be proud of where they come from.
Prof Ogbaje used the forum to call on government to create structures for youth to work with and for financial institutions to cut down their interest rates, so as to support youths actualize their needs thereby developing the Nigerian economy.
Oche Edeh, Director of the Youth Empowerment Solutions, said the body is a non-
Profit organization aimed at raising and empowering youths to be self reliant.
He advocated that organizations should support youth empowerment programmes.
Stakeholders at the forum unanimously challenged youths to believe in their abilities, identify a need and meet it and that that was the best way they could make a mark.
Highlight of the summit was the presentation of grants for some young Nigerians to help start up a trade as supported by the organization.