By Chinedu Adonu

Enugu State Government has reiterated its commitment to establishing skills acquisition programmes to enhance the growth and development of youths in the state.

The state governor, Barr. Peter Mbah, made this known while declaring the National Youth Day open at Amadeo Event Center, Enugu on Wednesday.

Mbah stated that his administration has approved the establishment of skills acquisition and empowerment programmes to enhance youth participation in sustainable development in the state.

Mbah, represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Chidiebere Onyia, disclosed that any state which invests in youth development would have a viable economy.

He further said that the state was running a youth-inclusive government.

“Youths make up 70% of the entire population of the country. We have a viable economy when we invest in youths. Today, we are celebrating the youths of Enugu State because of their value and potential.

“They have the energy that is needed to pursue the development and growth of the state. We are looking at enhancing skills that would help the youths of the state achieve a comparative advantage in the world.

“We are hoping that in the future, we will have a hall for entrepreneurship and skill acquisition that would move the state forward. I am assuring you that you will have access to capital to start up your businesses,” he said.

Earlier, in a welcome address, the Commissioner for Youths and Sports, Enugu State, Lloyd Ekweremadu, said the state government has secured a place for Enugu State in the world by equipping the youths with in-demand skills to compete favourably in the world of Information and Communication Technology.

He encouraged youths to believe in themselves, cultivate strength, and seize any opportunity that comes their way, adding that with perseverance, determination and a belief in their abilities, they can surmount obstacles and emerge stronger and more resilient.

“The theme of this year National Youths Day is apt because it calls for stable development and sustainability, it recognised that times are here and we need economic development not the one that goes up and down but the one that will be sustainable.

“It also realized that we cannot achieve this sustainable dev without the youths, they are an integral part of achieving this sustainable economic dev for Nigeria and Enugu State. Most importantly for our young people he called the youth to put all they learned from the resource person into practice to reach their destinations in life.

“The youths heard about opportunities in ICT, the Economic sector, the Agriculture sector small and medium side entrepreneurship opportunities importantly the dangers of drug abuse.

“My candid advice is for the youths to exploit the opportunities been dished out by the government to position themselves in terms of economic dependence,” he said.