Be Advocates of Peace and Dialogue - Ahmed Charges Youths
Date: 2012-02-09
Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed of Kwara State has called on Nigerian youths to be advocates of peace and dialogue as tools for nation building while shunning any attempt by undesirable elements to use them as tools for selfish political gains.
Governor Ahmed, who gave the charge in Ilorin while receiving officials of the North Central Zone of the National Youth Council (NYC), also promised announced plans to lay the foundation for a N1.2 billion International Vocation Centre in Ajasse Ipo in the coming weeks which he said will provide world class training and establish Kwara State as a hub of skills and a destination for employers within and outside the country seeking to recruit artisans.
Continuing, he said his administration was determined to strengthen the state’s capacity to provide marketable skills and vocational training to youths, especially those unable to proceed to higher education.
"By preaching peace and dialogue, you're effectively contributing to nation building", he said. He advised the youths to see Nigeria’s diversity as a source of strength rather than a weakness, adding that Nigeria’s development can be enriched by the diversity of skills and ideas in the dialogue for national growth.
Ahmed told the youth delegation of his administration’s determination to empower youths by creating opportunities for them to become active economic actors, stressing that efforts by his administration to improve the welfare of the people will prioritise youths, who he said comprise seventy per cent of the state’s population.
"We have always looked at the need to take the youths along in our developmental plans. That is why shortly after inception we did a head count of employable youths in order to ensure that we plan effectively for them. Having provided 2000 jobs within 100 days, we have set aside some money for those youths who want to set up small and medium scale enterprises.
Speaking earlier, Alhaji M. H. Maigidansanma, of the NYC said the delegation was in Government House to show its appreciation to Governor Ahmed for implementing youth-friendly policies as well as his administration’s development strides since inception.
Maigidansanma described Governor Ahmed’s strides as beyond measure pointing to the introduction of free education, the reduction of fees at the Kwara State University (KWASU) and facilitation of mass transit buses for students as examples of Ahmed’s youth-friendly policies.
The youth leader called on Governor Ahmed to sustain the good work and solicited support for the NYC activities in the country as a whole.
19/02/2012
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