Edo State government has tasked the youth to embrace skills that would enable them to be self-sufficient in order to drive the nation’s economy and reduce the high rate of unemployment in the country.
Edo State Deputy Governor, Hon. Philip Shaibu, made the call during the launching of Owan West Youth Foundation in Owan West Local Government Area of Edo State.
Shaibu, who was represented by the immediate past commissioner for Youth and Sports, Mr. Demian Lawani, said the future of the nation lies in the hands of the youth and to justify that, they should embrace skills that would guarantee that which they have yearned for.
He noted that the Owan West Foundation came at the nick of time when the country was battling with the high rate of unemployment.
He said the state governor, Godwin Obaseki was very keen about the wellbeing of the youth, hence, 60 percent of his cabinet members are going to be youth.
The deputy governor also urged the youth of the local government to take advantage of the skills acquisitions that the foundation is offering with the view of collaborating with the state government in reducing the rate of unemployment in the state and in the nation at large.
Earlier, the council chairman, Frank Ilaboya, said the recent #EndSARS protest that shook the nation was an indication that all is not well with the nation and that the various political leaders in the country have to rise up to the clarion call of creating enabling environment for the youth to strive and embrace skills acquisitions that could make them independent.
“The recent #EndSARS protest is a wakeup call that we as parents, guardians and politicians are not doing what we should be doing. Now, we have been woken up from our slumber by the youth themselves.
“Let us quickly align our onerous responsibilities. It is never too late”, he said.
He said the era of recruiting the youth for political thuggery is over and that the foundation has come to redefine the youth of the locality