By Uche Eze, from Nsukka

A non-governmental humanitarian organization, Barrister Sam Otoboeze Foundation in collaboration with Ochima Foundation, has organized one-day workshop for youth in Enugu state on poverty alleviation to curb insecurity in Nigeria.

The programme which took place at NUJ, Nsukka Press Centre had its theme as, ‘’Building Resilience; Strategies for Youth to Thrive in a Challenging Economy’’.

In his opening remarks, the president of the Foundation, Barrister Sam Otoboeze said it has become imperative to redirect the minds of the youth, especially at this period of economic quagmire where lives are becoming overwhelmingly challenging and unbearable. According to him, it is high time youth explored and harnessed their God’s giving talents for meaningful livelihood, adding that the era of relying on one source of income was over.

“If you say that tomorrow is for the youth, then they should be prepared for it. It is our duty to give them the other side of life challenges. We have therefore brought you here to have discussion and dialogue with you on how you can discover your talents. It is not about grant or job but we are looking at how we can add to your tomorrow.

In business, it is not about how much you use to start, but how you manage the resources you have. We are not sharing money but knowledge, networking and connectivity. We give hope to the helpless. We will be glad if after this training you make a difference, difference that is good for you, for your family, government and the society as a whole”, he said.

Otoboeze, a security professional also noted that it is worrisome seeing the prevailing situation in the country, where the youth are not established pointing out that the Foundation is in a haste to change the paradigm, if possible. He disclosed that the Foundation started as a national programme where people from various parts of the country like, Oyo, Bauchi and Kano states had benefitted, adding that it is time Enugu state joined the league of the beneficiaries.

‘’Those who know feel it most. As a security professional each time I look through the window, I see where we are going as a nation, I feel worried. I am in a haste to bring a paradigm shift, if possible.
Nigeria can’t be better if our youth are not settled and you can’t do it just in a day. It is a continuous process and we know that gradually we will get it and we start from somewhere. We need a foundation and the foundation is to start from the scratch, to see that the youth of this country and Enugu state change their way of life for better. I believe that when we make the necessary contributions to mitigate the economic challenges in the country, the youth will be better and insecurity will as well be reduced”, he said.

The free business skills training and grant funding featured lectures on the relevant areas of the programme. In a lecture titled, “Overcoming Youth Crimes in a Recession”, delivered by ASP Oliver Abba, Admin officer, Nsukka Urban Police, he noted that an idle mind is the devil’s workshop, adding that many young people engage in crimes not because they really want to, but because of their keeping bad group and some other reasons that border on harsh economy and unemployment. He however said that youth crimes have grave consequences, not only to the perpetrators who may meet their waterloo, but to their families, society and the country.
ASP Abba therefore enjoined the trainees to shun crimes and engage in meaningful ventures that could transform their lives, emphasizing that engaging in criminal activities has its legal consequences.

Also, the Assistant commander of Narcotic, Nsukka Area command of National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (N.D.L.E.A), Amah Raphael who looked at ‘’The Devastating Impact of Substance/Drug Abuse on Youth Economic Prospects”, while briefing the participants on the dangers of drug abuse, said that people that engage in substance abuse end up achieving nothing in their lives, adding that “Drug Ends All Dreams”. He advised those that see the use of drugs as an escape route for daunting challenges of lives or a way of reliving boredom to jettison the idea and embrace legitimate and life sustaining activities.

Other resource persons were Mr. Ebere Ijeoma of Small and Medium Enterprise Development Agency of Nigeria who tutored the group on topic, “Unlocking Entrepreneur Potential: Business Development Partnership for Youth”, and Mrs. Chinyere Otuonye from Oracus Digital Agency that taught them on how to “Harnessing Digital Technology to increase Business Profitability”.

Over 100 persons from different parts of Enugu state took part in the programme.