By Kenneth Onuoha
Ebonyi State Governor, David Umahi, has flagged off a one-week #ENDSARS Youth Summit in Abakaliki.
While flagging off the Summit at the Christian Ecumenical Center in Abakaliki, the Ebonyi state capital, Governor Umahi said he was encouraged to spearhead the youth engagement in order to tap their youthful ideas in the governance of the state.
“It has always been my wish to organize this kind of Summit for the Youth.
“It’s our desire to know how you want us to govern you, we want to know how to prepare the future for you”.
The Governor appealed to the youth to take the summit seriously and make input in the business of governance in the country.
“The South east Governors Forum is not against any youth organizations. We are not against you, we want to work with you but look at what happened during the #ENDSARS protest, you burnt down police stations and critical infrastructure, what shall it profit you, if you don’t make your morning to be worthwhile, you can be sure that your evening will be problematic”.
The Governor noted that his government has a deep commitment to the welfare of youths in the state.
“80% of my appointee are all youths, 99% of the jobs in this state are done by our people, there is no capital flight and so the money resides in the state, Ebonyi state has been turned into a construction site”.
He announced the plan by his administration to empower selected youths with N500,000 to N1 million as part of the N 3 billion already set aside under the #ENDSARS Empowerment scheme.
The Governor also announced arrangements to kick off the King David Unity Match between the 24 state constituencies from which budding talents would be harnessed to form the male and female football teams for the state.
Governor Umahi announced that the 80km section of the Abakaliki Ring Road from Ezzamgbo through Ezza North to Ikwo and Nwezenyi would commence in April.
He disclosed that the King David Gifted Academy has been handed over to the Catholic Church for more robust management.
On Housing, Governor Umahi said that by April, the state government would begin the construction of houses for persons displaced at the new Ochoudo Centenary City Abakaliki and would double its engagement in the sector to take the welfare of the people to the next level.
He commended President Muhammadu Buhari for approving the sum of N6 billion for the establishment of limestone granules at Okpoto and another N500m for an empirical search of salt deposits for the harnessing of hypochlorite for the treatment of water in the state.
The chairman of the occasion and former governor of the state, Chief Martin Elechi applauded Governor Umahi for showing the way in carrying the youth along in governance and enjoined the participants to take the conference seriously so as to guarantee a better future.
The Commissioner for Inter-Governmental Affairs, Pastor Eze Nwachukwu said the#ENDSARS Youth Summit was put together to address the issues raised by the #ENDSARS agitators as a way of bequeathing a better future for Ebonyi youths.
He commended the Governor for the initiative describing it as the first-of-its-kind post #ENDSARS protest, aimed at setting the standard for other states across the country.
A guest Lecturer, Dr. David Ogbueli of Dominion City Worldwide commended Governor Umahi for the massive transformation in the state despite lean
financial resources.