The Imo State Government has indicated its preparedness to work with the National Orientation Agency, (NOA), in its ‘Building the People of Peace’ with a view to achieving a more unified and progressive Nigeria.
The was the position of the Deputy Governor of Imo State, Eze Madumere while receiving in audience the Director General of National Orientation Agency, Garba Abari who led a delegation on a courtesy call to the Deputy Governor in Government House, Owerri, Imo State.
Madumere eulogized the NOA for consistent effort towards achieving a more united Nigeria, describing the Agency as a great instrument for national mobilization and orientation.
He commended Abari for choosing to focus on the youth demography, which constitutes over 60 per cent of Nigerian population, saying the country stands to gain if the youth are empowered and groomed for optimum utilization for economic development. He also warned against the dangerous repercussion of not properly harnessing and empowering the youth to be productive and Peace Ambassadors.
On the effort of the State Government, Madumere said: “Knowing the strategic place of the youth, in our State, Owelle Okorocha led administration has empowered over three hundred youths through its ‘Youth Millionaire Club’ with N1 million each coupled with a mentorship programme on entrepreneurship. We also have a finishing-school called Imo College of Advanced Professional Studies (ICAPS) where young school leavers are trained in various lucrative skills. We have also engaged thousands of youths in the State security outfits with a view to ensuring that crime and social vices are nipped in the bud.”
He however frowned at the misrepresentation of facts in Nigeria’s historical antecedents, a seeming deliberate ploy of some section of the people in the polity for reasons he said are unpatriotic.
He therefore called on the NOA, to design a programme to bring to the fore the dangers and the wanton losses that are associated with hate, religious intolerance, tribalism and ethnicism. He warned that it will spell doom for the country if unsuspecting Nigerians, especially the youth, get to know about these historic antecedents from the wrong quarters.
Madumere challenged them to come up with programmes that will take care of the gulf in the polity, even as he cited United States’ government and their celebration of their historic events, however painful.
Earlier, Abari revealed that their Agency is embarking on a programme called ‘Building the People of Peace.’ He stated that their focus is on the youth following the sensitive demographics they occupy.
He stressed that if the youth have proper orientation, it will surely put the country on the path of quantum leap developmentally, arguing that should the reverse be the case, especially when they are unduly exposed to the negative doctrines through various channels, it will put the country on the edge since they occupy over 60 per cent of the total population of Nigeria estimated to be over 170 million.
He also commended Imo State Government for its rapid response in mobilizing Imo youths from rural communities through Adviser to the Governor on Youth Affairs, Kenneth Emelu to take part in the orientation propgramme.
High point of the visit was handing over of Nigerian Flags and Coat of Arm to the Deputy Governor.