The International Youth Day which is observed annually on 12th of August was set aside by the United Nation Assembly during its first session held in Portugal in 1998 to draw attention to issues affecting youths worldwide.
As the world commemorates the International Youth Day, Some Residents of Port Harcourt have called for concerted effort geared towards equipping youths with relevant skills needed to function effectively in the society.
In Nigeria, with the Renewed Hope Initiative of President Bola Tinubu aiming to empower over seven million youths economically across the country, some youths in Port Harcourt have decried the efficacy of government policies aimed at solving various economic issues confronting youths in the nation.
For Wisdom Maduora and Okogbule Praise, the government has not done enough to ensure youths in the country are well equipped to function effectively in the society.
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Also, speaking on the issues of Empowerment of youths, Owulabani Korede and Sarah Benjamin maintained that youths should become agents of positive change through continuous learning, prioritize their mental health and ensure an effective use of every positive opportunity.
The Rivers State Chairman, National Association of Small and Medium Scale Enterprises, Elder Dogala Sakpege while speaking on the significance of the Day called on the government at all levels to simplify the process of empowering youths in the country and implement efficient mentorship systems to enable youths to utilize acquired skills.
As Nigerians observed International Youth Day, all hands must be on deck to strengthen partnership between youths and governments in a bid to tackle pressing issues on the economy, education and social justice.
