Youths Empowerment: @GovernorIkpeazu's Style

By Kingsley Maduforo

The foremost African writer and prolific novelist, Professor Chinua Achebe once said: "The trouble with Nigeria is simply and squarely a failure of leadership. There is nothing wrong with the Nigerian land or climate or water or air or anything else.The Nigerian problem is the unwillingness or inability of it's leaders to rise to the responsibility, to the challenge of personal example which is the hallmarks of true leadership."

The emergence of a dedicated leader like Dr. Okezie Victor Ikpeazu as the Governor of Abia State has really changed the political history and climate of Abia State. With flare and utmost passion for positive change in Abia, this son of a teacher has written his name on the springboard in Abia State. His achievement speaks loud and people are wondering how the magic is being done. But the answer is simple: the disposition of a leader rubs off on his style and his achievements. The answer is prudence transparency and self-mastery.

Adequate training and empowerment of youths have been identified as core elements of national development. The quality of the youths can be a parameter by which the future of any nation can be measured. If the youths are relegated to the background in the scheme of things, the failure of such society becomes imminent. This therefore, reinforces the belief that youths empowerment is one of the key factors in nation building.

Gov. Ikpeazu understands the fact that for Abia State to be progressive, youths empowerment is vital. In unmistakable terms, empowering the youths means investing in the future. The former Secretary-General of the United Nations (UN) Mr. Koffi Annan, said: "Young people should be at the forefront of global change and innovation. If empowered, they can be the agents for development and peace. If they are left on society's margins, all of us will be impoverished ...."

Youths empowerment is characterized by certain factors; a complete transformation of young people through capacity building and active participation in decision making process and innovation. Sound education propels the youths to a state of self-dependence, thereby making them to contribute meaningfully to national growth. An educated youth will not only be enlightened but will gain exposure spiced with confidence and positive mindset.

The government of Abia State recently organized a send off get-together in honour of the first batch if 30 Abia youths out of hundred who shall be trained in automated shoe making in China. The artisans who were randomly selected are already out of the shores of Abia State. This was in fulfilment of Gov. Ikpeazu's promise made to Abians during his 'Thank You Tour', where he promised to send one hundred Abians to China to be train on the new mechanism of shoe making.

Abians are well known for their manufacturing skills; the fabrication of equipment and tools, making of garments, finished leather products, belts and bags, and other sundry products that have the capability to compete globally, which has helped in growing the economy of the state. Indeed their creative ingenuity, skills, abilities and endowments are been felt as factors in the economic growth of Abia State.

Gov. Ikpeazu ensured that the government took care of all their expenses to totally ease off the financial burden on the participants. The Governor has indeed shown himself as an approved workman who has no reproach and as a leader that keeps to his promise. Obviously, the political orientation of Abians is turning for the better because of Ikpeazu's style of governance.

Finally, the Education for Employment (E4E) programme which is a novel idea of the Governor is yielding fruits across the state. The programme is aimed at tackling the issue of youth unemployment in the state and to divert the mindset of Abia youths from white-collar jobs, but encourages Abia youths who are trained in various skills to be self-employed as well as employers of labour.

Kingsley Maduforo, a Media Analyst, writes from Aba.
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