By CHARLES IWUOHA

The Ebonyi State Correspondents’ Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) on Sunday lauded Governor David Umahi for introducing the #EndSARS empowerment programme and approving the sum of N3bn for the empowerment of not less than 3,000 Ebonyians, including youths and women.

They also commended the Governor for being the first State Governor in Nigeria to successfully organised #EndSARS youth summit, aimed at addressing all the youth agitations, perceptions and other burning national issues that triggered the #EndSARS protests that almost grounded the entire country.

The body described it as a demonstration of a true leadership and his special love for the youth population.

The Chapel comprised representatives of National Newspapers and Broadcast outfits, made their position known in a communiqué endorsed by the Chairman, Comrade Jacob Ogodo, and the Secretary, Comrade Nwafor Samson, in Abakaliki, described the #EndSARS youth summit organised by Umahi’s administration as a huge success.

“We wish to commend very highly, the Ebonyi State government ably led by His Excellency, Governor David Umahi for making huge efforts to address the issues raised by the youths during the #EndSARS protests.

“We thank His Excellency for introducing #EndSARS Empowerment Programme and approving the sum of Three Billion Naira (N3,000,000,000.00) to inject in the empowerment of not less than 3000 Ebonyians, including youths and women.

“The just concluded 7-day youths #EndSARS summit organized by the Ebonyi State Government was another pragmatic and laudable step of His Excellency, the Governor, in engaging the youth population.

“And for being the first State Governor to organize such a summit after the #EndSARS protests of last year, 2020, that nearly grounded the entire country, is a demonstration of true leadership, his love and commitment to the welfare of the youths. We therefore, call on other leaders and State Governors to toe this noble path of His Excellency, Governor of Ebonyi State,” the Chapel said.

It further noted that the quality of contents and the personalities assembled by the State Government to teach and inspire the over 1,500 Ebonyi youth who participated in the summit were unprecedented and expressed confidence that the participants would never remain the same.

“We urge that this type of youth summit should be made a period event by Government at all levels, as it would go long way in the reorientation of our youths in order to check a repeat of the likes of #EndSARS protests in the future,” the communiqué added.

The Chapel also advised the participants in the just concluded Ebonyi State #EndSARS youth summit to make positive use of the knowledge acquired from the summit.