:BY OBIORAH ANTHONY in Awka.
The National Orientation Agency in Anambra state has called on the five Governors in the South-East geo-political zone of Nigeria to work towards building functional institutions to reduce poverty,unemployment and unabated hardship bedeviling people of the zone over the years to the bearest minimum.
This is contained in a statement signed by Obiora Anthony, Press Officer, NOA, Anambra state and sent a copy to the The Reporters on Wednesday.
The Directors of NOA in Anambra state, Barrister Charles Nwoji,made the call at the Second Edition of the Indication and Orientation Programme, organized in Awka by the Mmaigbo Empowerment Foundation, on Skills Acquisition and Exhibition for its new beneficiaries in the State and beyond.
Barrister Nwoji, represented by the Deputy Director, Programmes of the Agency in Awka,Sir,Joseph Uchendu, however,commended the uniqueness of the Igbo Culture and Tradition,adding that the Igbos had manifested their destiny like the Americans and elsewhere in the World, hence their ability and skills to deliver anywhere they found themselves.
The state director described Ndigbo as the true republicans with their wide spread across every length and breathe of the country in pursuit of their livelihood, maintained that the Igbos were also the fertile ground for the attainment of the Nigeria’s greater future.
He called on the electorate in the State,especially youths,to work towards obtaining and securing their Permanent Voters Cards, describing them as the only weapon to eliminate the negative imparts of bad governance,poverty,unemployment and gross hardship in the country.
He also urged the voters to come out enmasse on the election days to not only vote their conscience, but vote correctly, with a view to building the new Nigerian society of their choice, reminding them that the elections would be digitized, saying that only those recognized by the BVAS would be allowed to cast their voters at the polling units.
The state director called on the participants to shun all forms of social vices that would lead them to trouble, before, during and after the general elections with particular reference to drugs addiction, cultism,illegal migration in pursuance of getting-rich- quick,among others.
While reminding the people that Ndigbo were lost out in the 2006 National Population Census, the NOA Director, also urged them to be aware and participate actively in the 2023 National Population and Housing Census, with a view to correcting the mistakes of the past.
In his address of welcome,the Director- General of the Non- Governmental Organization ,Mmaigbo Foundation, Mr Uzor Ekemezie,said that after the Induction and Orientation Ceremony, the beneficiaries of the event would be sent to where they would be trained, followed by their empowerment by the Organization.
The Director – General, said that the beneficiaries were drawn from the all Igbo speaking States in the country, including Abuja and Delta State, stressing that the program was aimed at bringing Ndigbo together, pointing out that the Foundation was committed to promoting and protecting the welfare of the Igbo youths .
He appealed to government and affluent individuals in the State to work towards contributing their quota in bettering the lots of Igbo children,women and youths, noting that “God has blessed Ndigbo with handwork, skills, crafts and innovations to conquer the world”.
Contrubuting,a former Deputy -Director ,Planning, Research and Strategy (NOA),Anambra State Directorate,Dr.Dennis Ekemezie,who spoke on Value Orientation,challenged youths to resist all forms of temptation that would short change their chances of becoming responsible citizens of the country.
He, therefore, called on them to apply the tenets of resilience in any endeavor they found themselves, at all times, for self actualization.
In their separate lectures,the Director of Administration in the Government House,Awka, Lady Patience Aniagor,the Financial Director of the Organization, Mrs.Egbabu Onyinyechukwu and Evagelist Chinelo Onunaru,under scored the importance of vocational education , prudent financial management ,planning savings, self training and proper time management.
They advised the beneficiaries to say no to thuggery during the periods of the election in the State as well as the Census exercise slated to hold by April next year by the National Population Commission.
Edited by Dada Ahmed.
