Jobless youths in Delta State have heaved a sigh of relieve following the assurance given by President Goodluck Jonathan that his Subsidy Reinvestment Programme will guarantee them a better future.
\nThousands of the youths have been empowered via the programme across the 25 local government areas of the oil rich state since the programme was launched.
\nThe President, who spoke at the maiden edition of the Delta Youth Empowerment Summit, tagged: \u201cActualizing Generational Change through Self Reliance,\u201d held in Asaba, the state capital, said nothing would derail his administration from carrying the youths along in the schemes of things.
\nPresident Jonathan, who was represented as the event by his Senior Special Assistant (Youth and Student Matters), Jude Imagwe, however, urged the youth to position themselves and be disposed to work towards fulfilling their destinies by developing themselves in various skills, which could make them self-reliant.
\nHe said that the Federal Government initiated the SURE-P, significantly, to empower the youth, even as he warned them against taking the programme for granted.
\nImagwe also advised youths to contribute their quota to the development of the country by developing their skills in profitable ventures that could make them self-reliant.
\nWhile he acknowledged that government only could not provide jobs for the teeming youths of the country, he said the SURE-P is another device not only to engage them in profitable ventures but to make them to be self-employed and reliant.
\nThe presidential aide commended the Delta Youth Frontiers for organizing the summit.
\nThe Delta State Commissioner for Youth, Ebifa Ijomah, stressed the need for the diversification of Nigeria\u2019s economy in order to reduce the country\u2019s reliance on revenue from crude oil exports.
\nIjomah warned the youths to resist any attempt to use them to foment trouble, particularly during elections and political campaigns.
\nDonald Igudia, the Coordinator of DYF, said that the association was established to mobilize youths to participate in nation-building efforts.
\nThe coordinator said that the association is a catalyst to create and awaken the youth consciousness in the state and in the whole country.
\nIgudia said: \u201cWe have decided to work as a formidable force to negotiate with the ruling class concerning our political and economic future.
\n\u201cI appeal to all in this summit not to leave here without doing something for yourself.
\n\u201cLet it be known that we have no excuse not to succeed.\u201d
\nIgudia added that the association would ensure that young enlightened and politically conscious persons were supported into elective offices, harping on the need for youths to be creative and be innovative in their ideas.
\nHe said: \u201cNothing comes on a platter of gold.\u201d
\nHe hinted that through the summit, the association intends to key into available opportunities offered at the various levels of government to empower the youth.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Jobless youths in Delta State have heaved a sigh of relieve following the assurance given by President Goodluck Jonathan that his Subsidy Reinvestment Programme will guarantee them a better future.…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":19433,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"","_lmt_disable":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[17],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-19432","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-exclusive"],"yoast_head":"\n