Against the entitlement mindset the present day youths are known for, Rivers State Government has asked the youths to embrace self-sustainable efforts and change their mentality.
The State Commissioner for Youths Development, Prince Obi Ohia gave the task during an event organised to mark the 2021 international youth day in Port Harcourt.
Ohia said rather than expecting companies in their domains for empowerment, youths should engage themselves in meaningful activities and imbibe skills that will make them useful to themselves while contributing to societal development.
He said this year’s theme: ‘Transforming Food Systems: Youth innovation for human and Planetary Health’ was apt, as it has broadened their horizon and exposed them to opportunities that abound in agricultural sector of the economy.
The Commissioner explained that Governor Nysom Wike’s youth-friendly disposition was demonstrated through the provision of agricultural value chain and the establishment of three campuses of the Rivers State University, outside the city centre aimed at fostering academic pursuits.
Ohia further said that the aim of the on-line Rivers State Youth Market portal was to link and expose them to international opportunities for employment, self sustain ability and entrepreneurship and charged them to make good use of the knowledge acquired from event.
He noted that the inputs of the notable resource persons during the week-long activities were capable of transforming them to being employers of labour.
“We will unveil a lot of youth entrepreneurship schemes that will take youths out of the streets and make them employers of labour.
The resource persons the Vice Chancellor Ignatius Ajuru University, Professor Ozo-Mekuri Ndimele who dwelt on transforming food systems, youth innovation for human and planetary health while his Rivers State University counterpart and chairman of the occasion Okogbule Nlerum who spoke on “youth investment” advised youths to diversify into meaningful ventures rather than take behaviour that could jeopardize their lives and future.
