By Chimezie Anaso
Parents and professional bodies have been urged to do more in the mentorship of youths as part of measures to address rising social vices, drug abuse, insecurity and decline of values.
Chief Chidi Chidebelu, a lawyer and community leader made the call at the maiden Amanuke Youth Summit in Amanuke, Community Awka North Local Government Area on Saturday.
Chidebelu said abuse of drugs and narcotics was becoming the norm among youths, adding that the society was suffering the adverse effects.
He said the summit had become necessary as part of community based campaigns against drug abuse, quest for easy money which led to cybercrime and sensitise them on the need for skill acquisition, hard work and self development.
“It is a development toward encouraging our youths to become better persons, embrace virtues and also tell the government that we have youths that they can capture in their youth empowerment programmes.”
In his speech , Mr Patrick-Agha Mba, Commissioner for Sports and Youth Development said he was happy that Amanuke conceived and organised the Youth Summit as the future belonged to them.
Mba who was represented by Tony Omata, his Special Assistant, charged the youth to take advantage of the opportunities government was creating for them through investments in innovation and empowerment as contained in the One Youth Two Skills Programme.
He advised them against violence, vices, despondency but to embrace problem solving skills, technology, agro business and global connectivity of the internet.
On his part, Mr Simon Orakwe, the President General of Amanuke said no fewer than 600 youths were participating in the summit.
Orakwe said community professionals from different walks of life including security agencies were invited to deliver lectures at the event.
He used the opportunity to beg the Anambra government to come to the rescue of Amanuke in the areas of road infrastructure and more teachers.
He said Amanuke, an agrarian community could barely transport their produce to the markets because of poor access roads.
In his lecture, Edwin Okadigbo, the Head Media and Tactical Operations, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Anambra State Command, urged the youth to take ownership of public assets and social amenities as their own good instead of cannibalising them.
Okadigbo who represented the State Commandant, Maku Olatunde, said the NSCDC was always ready to work with the community to ensure protection of schools and public assets, but urged them to provide timely and credible information.
Representatives of other security agencies including Department of State Services, Police, National Drug Law Enforcement Agency made presentations at the summit.
Earlier In his address of welcome, Chief Chinwike Enemor, a community leader, appreciated Igwe Chijindu Ezebuilo the traditional ruler of Amanuke, the guests and sponsors for supporting the maiden Amanuke Youth Summit.
Enemor urged the youth to pick the life-changing lessons during the summit and apply them to their lives as such knowledge could lead to economic prosperity and that of the government.
