2022 INTERNATIONAL YOUTH DAY CELEBRATION IN ABIA STATE
In 1998 at the United Nations Youth Forum in Lisbon Portugal, the 12th day of August every year was declared as the International Day of the Youth. This is a day when government, families and indeed the entire world focus on the youth and give them attention, through some special programmers which address their needs, rights, obligation, interests, etc.
In Nigeria, the event is celebrated with a week long programme of activities which culminates in the grand finale on the 12th day of August. State contingents travel to Abuja for the national celebration, while each state is expected to celebrate the day in their respective states.
Some of the objectives of the programme are;
To sensitize the individuals and corporate bodies in the society on the needs, rights and aspirations of the youths.
To honour the youths as agents of change.
To remind the youths of their roles in Nation Building and their duties to their communities and the country at large.
To bring the positive achievements of young people to the forefront of the society’s consciousness.
The theme for the 2022 Celebration is “Intergenerational Solidarity: Creating a World For All Ages”. This theme highlights the necessity for all and sundry – the government, private sector, the old, the young, corporate organizations and the individuals to invest in the welfare of the youth as the youth represents the strength and the vitality of the society today and what the world would be tomorrow; youths being the surety for tomorrow.
To achieve the sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the world needs to leverage the full potentials of all generations. The world needs solidarity across generations for a sustainable development.
It is in the height of these that the youth-friendly Governor of Abia State, Okozie Victor Ikpeazu, Ph.D has graciously approved the celebration of the 2022 International Youth Day in the state.
Consequently, under the superintendency of Barr. Charles Esonu, as Hon. Commissioner for Youth Development,the ministry has put together an array of interesting programmes to mark the event in the State.
These include;Workshop on the theme
Symposium youth Assembly Creativity/talent display youth rally and carnival train.
Now, more than any other time in the past, the world, nay Nigeria faces a greater need to be more youth-focused and youth-led in its socio-economic and political social engineering as to arrest an emerging downward trend in society, that has predisposed the youths to a debilitating moral morass, that is exemplified in drug/substance abuse and addiction, robbery, kidnapping for ransom, banditry, rape and all manner of vices and criminality.
However, all hopes are not lost as the Governor, Okezie Victor Ikpeazu, Ph.D is irrevocably committed to repositioning the Abia Youth on a cherished trajectory of global competitiveness.This informed decision of the Governor Under the watch of the hon commissioner yielded the following results …Youths were sent to China to learn how to manufacture shoes and a world standard factory opened to facilitate their skills…several youths were empowered in area of small and medium enterprise..
In the area of leadership and human capital development,the Governor supported the likes of Chima Agbaeze,Chimehilaura Ikonne and Promise Uzoma Okoro to become Executive chairman and Deputy of their respective Local Government areas….
The Executive Governor also approved the citing of a permanent world standard youth acquisition center at the Old nsulu games village…etc
As we mark this year’s youth day,the Honourable commissioner barr Charles Esonu is wishing Abia youths a happy youth day
