…Calls on Leaders to Support Youth Aspirations

By Chinedu Adonu

ENUGU— The Chairman of the Enugu State Traditional Rulers Council, HRH Igwe Samuel Asadu, has cautioned Nigerian youths against the rising trend of seeking wealth through illegal means such as internet fraud and drug abuse, describing such pursuits as destructive and short-lived.

Speaking at the South East Youth Assembly Summit, themed “Governance: A Corporate Responsibility of Government and Citizens,” held at the Enugu State House of Assembly Complex, Igwe Asadu urged young people to embrace patience, discipline, and integrity in their pursuit of success.

“There is no quick and easy money — there are consequences,” he warned. “Stop engaging in social vices, drug abuse, and Yahoo Yahoo to get rich quickly. These are the things we must condemn. Thankfully, our governor is doing his best to address them.”

The monarch, who described himself as a “Barnabas” — an encourager — emphasized that youths must see themselves as future leaders and participate actively in community development and governance.

“Some of you here will be governors, traditional rulers, church leaders, or captains of industry. You never know. But it starts with believing in yourself and doing the right thing,” he said.

He also called on political leaders and stakeholders across the South East to support and nurture youth aspirations by providing platforms for engagement and leadership development.

The Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Prof. Chidiebere Onyi, who also addressed the summit, described the theme as reflective of the thriving democratic values in Enugu State.

“Governance is no longer the sole responsibility of elected officials. It’s a shared partnership with the people — where citizens participate, hold leaders accountable, and contribute to the collective well-being,” Onyi stated.

Earlier, Amb. Gabriel Uchenna Odii, National Deputy Chief Whip of the Assembly, said the event aimed to reorient citizens, especially the youth, on their roles in governance.

“Today is about sensitization — helping people understand that governance is a shared duty. Everyone must contribute to make government work,” he said.

The Speaker of the Enugu State Chapter of NYAN (National Youth Assembly of Nigeria), Amb. Fidelis Ugwu, added that the summit was part of their corporate social responsibility to bridge the gap between the government and citizens.

“Instead of promoting social vices online, we must channel our energy into engaging with government and driving positive change. Many youths engage in vices not out of desire, but because of lack of opportunities,” he said.

He acknowledged the economic hardships many young people face, but maintained that there are still legal and ethical ways to succeed.

Amb. Ugwu also raised concerns over rising insecurity, especially in Uzo-Uwani and Isi-Uzo Local Government Areas.

“Insecurity has become a national pandemic. We urge our governor to intensify efforts to secure our rural communities. The government has a constitutional duty to protect lives, and we will continue to engage with them on this,” he concluded.

The summit brought together stakeholders, traditional rulers, government officials, and youth leaders to deliberate on building a more inclusive and responsible governance structure across the region.