Ndigbo from all walks of life and other ethnic nationalities will converge on Umuahia, Abia State capital in South East Nigeria, today to celebrate the Second International Igbo Youth Day.

The theme of the event expected to be used to chart a new course for Igbo youths is ‘Ndigbo, the Challenges of our youths’.

Four erudite scholars, with the Vice Chancellor of Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, Prof. Hlary Edeoga, as Lead Speaker, have been assembled by organisers of the event, Ohanaeze Youth Council (OYC) to dissect the theme and give insights into new ways Igbo youths, and by extension, Nigerian youths, could be empowered for national development.

Governors from seven states of Abia, Anambra, Delta, Ebonyi, Enugu, Imo and Rivers where Ohanaeze Ndigbo, the apex socio-cultural organisation of Ndigbo has its roots, are expected to grace the event which will hold at the Michael Okpara Auditorium, Umuahia.

Chairman of the Planning Committee, Dr. Kingsley Dozie, told newsmen in Umuahia that “the historic event would be used to honour an illustrious son of Ndigbo, Dr. MacJohn Nwobiala, immediate past Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Education, for his positive exploits in the field of education.”

Accordimg to Dozie, Abia State governor, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu, will deliver a special address to Ndigbo during the event which will have former Governor of Anambra state, Dr. Chukwuemeka Ezeife, as chairman.

“The Organising Committee,” Dozie said, “has made serious efforts and is still making every effort to ensure that all youth groups of all ethnic nationalities were part of the programme.”

The Deputy National Treasurer of OYC listed the youth groups invited to include Ijaw Youth Council, Arewa and Afenifere Youths.

Contributing, National President of OYC, Mazi Okechukwu Isiguzoro, said the group will seize the opportunity to impress it on governors of Ohanaeze states to make agriculture attractive to the youths.

“We are going to use this programme to persuade our youths to get involved in agriculture. We are going to call on the governors to ensure that they empower Igbo youths through agriculture and it is through agriculture that we can have food security and employment since there is no federal presence in the South East.”

Both Isiguzoro and Dozie hinted that OYC will also use the event to celebrate the governors of Abia, Delta, Ebonyi and Rivers for emerging from the marginalised sections of their respective states which hithero never had the opportunity to occupy Government House and honour past chieftains of the group.

•Photo shows Gov Ikpeazu.

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