The Abia State Government has given its approval to the training of 180 Abia youths on Sustainable Citizen Participation (SCP), a United Nations-sponsored project aimed at arresting youth restiveness in the Niger delta region comprising nine states.

The training which would be executed by Afrihealth Optonet Association, a network of Civil Society Organisation will see youths from Umunneochi, Isuikwuato and Bende in Abia North Senatorial Zone; Ikwuano, Umuahia North and Umuahia South (Abia Central) and Aba North, Aba South and Ugwunagbo (Abia South) benefit from the training which would imbue them with various skills, including community mobilization and conceptualisation of projects.

According to Afrihealth National Coordinator and Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Uzodinma Adirieje, the UN through the United Nations Democracy Fund is pumping $242, 000 (approximately N100 million) into the SCP project which training commences in July this year.

Adirieje explained that the objective of the SCP was to empower the civil society in the Niger Delta to engage with government on a regular and sustained basis for the achievement of Sustainable Development Goals in Nigeria.”

Speaking when the Afrihealth team paid a courtesy visit on the Commissioner for Youth Development, Barr. Haggler Okorie, Adirieje said “In this state alone, we will train 180 civil society members from nine local governments, three from each senatorial zone.

“The local governments were selected, using the criterion of consanguinity. We are training the youths so that we will arrest this issue of restiveness. From July, we will start the trainings.”

He presented the Commissioner with the project brochure and sought the cooperation of his Ministry as the project involves working with the communities.

Receiving the team, an excited Okorie assured them of government’s support as the training would make Abia youths to become better citizens.

“I am thrilled to hear about this project. For me, it is a very cheerful news because it is my thinking that youth development and empowerment starts with youth advocacy, youth mobilization, youth sensitisation and information dissemination.

“So, this great advocacy which Afrihealth wants to do for our youths on behalf of government, talking to them about how to live a better life; response mechanisms, for me it is yeoman’s job for my Ministry.

“I want to very positively say that development of the youths is not just only a government affair. I am a student of the School of Thought that says that development of the youth is everybody’s business and it makes things easier for us to live and sleep well when we do our own bit towards realigning these young men that are full of energy,” the Commissioner said. He commended Afrihealth for including Abia in the project.

“I want to assure of the support of this government and this Ministry by providing level playing ground for your operations. We will make sure that our Youth Development Officers in the local government work with you,” he added.

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