Government News Source|2 February 2020
Commissioner for Youth Development and Skills Acquisition, Hon. Signor Omang Idiege has charged Honourable members of the Cross River State Youth Parliament to steer clear of negative opinion formulation about State policies as youth representatives of their various constituencies, noting that they are opinion molders and whatever negative opinion they hold will escalate and brew trouble among youth in the State.
Giving the charge during a meeting with the Youth Parliamentarians in his office, Hon. Signor Idiege emphasised the needfulness of being proactive, focused, disciplined and humble as these are prerequisites to achieving their purpose as a body, adding that they are youth leaders at their various constituencies and should support the policy thrust of the Governor Ben Ayade led administration towards youth sensitization and reorientation across the State, if they must succeed as a youth body from the State.
The Hon. Commissioner informed that the rebranding of the Ministry to include Skills Acquisition, shows clearly Governor Ben Ayade's passion towards the empowerment and engagement of youth across the 18 LGAs to become self reliant and entrepreneurs with a difference, stating that there would be over One Hundred and Seventeen skills for youth across the State to choose from and be trained on once the empowerment starts.
He also urged them to be good ambassadors of the State even as they interact with youth Parliamentarians in other States of the Federation, emphasising that irrespective of the circumstances today, they will someday occupy public offices and records will always be there to show their performances over time. The Commissioner added that once the sensitization of youth in the State begins, the Youth Parliament will be carried along to also interface with youth across the State.
Earlier, the speaker of the Parliament and member representing Odukpani, Amb. Caleb Awatt Ekpenyong explained that the first session of the Cross River State Youth Parliament was inaugurated in the State House of Assembly a few months back and that the Parliament is duty-bound to always interface and collaborate with the Ministry in all of its activities towards youth development and engagements.
He informed that the essence of the Youth Parliament is to provide a platform for the Nigerian Youth through which their voices could be heard on government policies that affect them directly and to serve as an intermediary between government and the Nigerian Youth. He also stated that the Parliament serves to provide young people the opportunity to develop skills, in relationship building, teamwork, public speaking and leadership development.
Also speaking, the Deputy Speaker of the Parliament, Barr. George Ajangson, representing Boki 1 described the Hon. Commissioner as a man of uncommon personality, an astute technocrat with dexterity in youth development, whose office as the Commissioner of the Ministry would greatly imapct the lives of the youth. He however, appealed to the Commissioner that the Parliament needs a platform to operate from so that their voice can be held, their sittings held regularly and their aims and objectives achieved, adding that the passion of the State Government to youth development across the State is a catalyst for the Parliament to strive.
Giving a vote of thanks, Amb. Favour Abang, representing Boki 11 Constituency, commended the Commissioner and the Ministry for the swift attention to their request for a visit, pledging the commitment of the Parliament to support the activities of the State Government geared towards youth development and empowerment while making the State proud at the Federal level.
Also in attendance were the Director of Administration of the Ministry, Chief Barr. Egbala Edom, HOD Youth Mobilization and Orientation, Mrs. Immaculata Ekpenyoung and other members of the State Youth Parliament.
