Miss May Ikokwu, Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Save Our Heritage Initiative, an NGO, called on Friday for the empowerment of youth through acquiring skills to create wealth and end insecurity.
Ikokwu made this disclosure on the occasion of World Youth Skills Day in Abuja.
She expressed her concern about the avalanche of insecurity, drug abuse and other vices among young people, noting that empowering them with the right skills was imperative for the country’s growth and development.
According to her, many young people are being worn out by the lack of work, a factor that has been largely responsible for the increase in crimes such as kidnapping and banditry.
She called on the government to devise means to get young people off the streets through productive engagement.
“Many of the young people roaming the streets are gifted with different talents waiting to be harnessed for national benefit,” she said.
Ikokwu urged the federal and state governments to act quickly, not only to save young people from dismissal but also to create wealth through the acquisition of skills.
“Today‘s youths are our future and heritage.
It is our duty to make sure their potentials are fully captured,” she added.
The goal of World Youth Skills Day is to celebrate the strategic importance of equipping young people with skills for employment, decent work and entrepreneurship.
(NAN)
