The Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has said his government will sustain programmes and policies to equip youths with the right skills and knowledge to be globally-competitive and contribute their quota to the development of society.
Obaseki said this while delivering his welcome address at the Edo Youth Development Policy Inaugural Dialogue Session, as part of events to mark this year’s International Youth Day.
The state had on August 8, 2022 kicked off a two-week programme of activities to mark the global day with the theme, “Resetting Our Future, Empowering Our Youth.”
Obaseki, represented by the Secretary to the Edo State Government, Osarodion Ogie Esq., said the government has, in the last five years, embarked on projects to improve the lives of young people in the state and ensure they are better prepared for the tech-driven 21st century.
He said, “The strength of every nation is in the population of the youths and the strategic thing to do is to equip the youth population with skills and techniques to be productive. Our administration has carried out laudable projects focused on skills development and other employment opportunities.
“We have monumental projects like the Edo Production Center, Edo Tech Park and Edo Creative Hub. These have been put in place by the Edo State Government to get the youths and teenagers engaged in activities relevant for their development and that of the state and nation at large.”
Obaseki added, “We have decided to take seriously issues that relate to youth development and make it more central through an important legal framework that will transcend this administration. We are developing policies to address critical and relevant issues that Edo youths face, as well as measures that will be put in place to enable them have access to basic services they require.”
The governor said the state government is paying critical attention to education, health, agriculture and skills development, ensuring a level playing field for every youth in Edo State.
He added, “The youths have demonstrated readiness for growth and now it is our duty to provide a safe space for them to become achievers. This, we have started and will continue to do to make the state great again.”
In his opening remarks, the Commissioner for Youths and Humanitarian Affairs, Mr. Chris Nehikhare said youths “have softly but effectively dominated the creative and tech-based businesses and created a niche for themselves. They have demonstrated strength and unity with the most talked about being the ‘not too young to run’ law.”
