In furtherance of the Youth empowerment component of the ARISE Agenda, Akwa Ibom State Governor, Pastor Umo Eno, has expressed readiness to support the hosting of a Youth Opportunity Summit to connect young people to both local and global opportunities.
Governor Eno gave the hint when the Summit Convener, Mrs Hauwa Liman, Technical Adviser on Women, Youth Engagement and Impact to the Vice President, Kashim Shettima paid him a visit in his office at Government House, Uyo, the State Capital.
He said youth empowerment is on the front burner of his administration, and urged all youths to take advantage of available empowerment opportunities for their personal growth and development.
The Governor has empowered thousands of youths in the State through different initiatives including the Entrepreneurship Accelerator Programme (EAP) at the Ibom Leadership and Entrepreneurship Centre, trade, agriculture, and equipment support schemes for Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs).
Giving a brief on the summit, Liman said it is essentially about connecting young people to local and global opportunities hence the theme, “Leveraging Opportunities, Building a future – ready youth.”
She noted that most young people across the country just want to finish school and wait for government jobs which, according to her, is insufficient, adding that other youths have gone out to look for opportunities within and outside Nigeria and are making impact.
Liman who is a Mandela Washington Fellow, said, for purpose-driven youths, there is room to excel without knowing anyone, stressing that opportunities abound both online and offline, including through the Federal Ministries of Communications and Digital Economy and that of Youth Development, with lots of programs for youth development particularly in Technology that can equip them with relevant skills to access jobs including remote ones.
She said the summit will be an avenue to bring the opportunities closer to the people and also connect the youth to these opportunities.
Liman said programmes in the summit will include an indigenous language business pitching competition where young entrepreneurs present their ideas and innovations in their indigenous language and are supported accordingly.
She mentioned other areas to include; guidance and counseling technical sessions for secondary school students, and training and breakout sessions on different areas of focus.
The convener said the summit, which has taken place in Kano, Kaduna, Jigawa, Katsina, will see Akwa Ibom become the first port of call in Southern Nigeria.
