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Mr Wemi Jones, the Managing Director/CEO of DATES & EVENTS Limited, has advised Kogi youths to take ownership of security in order to attract investors and create employment opportunities in the state.
Jones gave the advice at the maiden edition of Kogi West Youth Empowerment Summit and Launching of “Kogi Must Remain Safe” campaign, in Lokoja on Monday.
Jones, who was the Chief Launcher at the event, said youths played crucial roles in addressing issues bothering on insecurity and promoting the development of any state or nation.
According to him, youths are not engaged because Government alone cannot provide all the jobs, so there is a need for private investors to come and invest, but they cannot invest in an unsecured environment.
“Let us take ownership of security in our respective domain by reporting any suspicious act or movement to security agencies because criminals live among us.
“There is a dare need to take the issue of security seriously, because the only way to get our youths adequately engaged is through private investors; and security is key.
“This summit was a fantastic initiative because no progress can be achieved outside security even though we have everything at our disposal; we urge you all to give your total support to the initiative.
“We want to commend the state government for the drastic improvement in the security of lives and property in Kogi state in just less than two years of this administration,” he said.
In his remarks, Mr Edward Onoja, the Chief of Staff to State Governor, commended the organisers of the event, saying security was an area of priority and interest of Gov Yahaya Bello led Administration.
Onoja noted that insecurity was the other of the day during the era of the past governments in the state, stressing that the governor was a direct victim of insecurity as his 80 years old mother was kidnapped and incarcerated for 93 days.
“Today, the story has changed; the giant strides of the governor in security has awarded him numerous awards both locally and internationally for his efforts in ensuring adequate security in Kogi.
“As the chief security officer in Kogi, the governor is collaborating with all security agencies and synergise to ensure adequate security even for the poorest citizens in Kogi.
“We urge our youths to use their energy, strength, and wisdom to better their lives and desist from all forms of criminality because an ‘idle mind is the devil’s workshop’.
“We urge you to deliberate very well to bring out a genuine solution that will enable our youth to shun all forms of social vices to engage in something meaningful that will improve their wellbeing,” Onoja said.
The Commissioner for Youth Development and Sports, Mr Aroma Adoji, said the security summit was coming at the right time at a period that the governor was seriously tackling security challenges in the state.
He noted that the state government had spent a huge sum of money to tacking security challenges in the state and engagement of the youths.
Adoji added “I can boldly say that Kogi is safer for all. We are committed to ensure that this move is sustained for the betterment and well being of the people of the state”.
On his part, the Special Adviser to the governor on Youth Empowerment, Sports and Students’ Affairs, Hon Deola Eseyin, said the program was timely because Kogi is governed by a man who holds security and qualitative empowerment programs to heart.
“It is however, pertinent for this program to unveil to all and sundry but particularly the youth the importance of youth empowerment as a pivotal mechanism in dealing with insecurity in the state.
“Youths are the machinery by which the foundation in respect to security can be firmly built on in any human society. Empowering the youths in qualitative program enables them to become conscious of the dangers inherent in insecurity of lives and properties.
“Hence, when youths are well empowered, we can be certain that security of the state becomes enhanced and undistorted.
“This is because youths who are positively engaged via productive empowerment will invariably have no time to engage themselves in deviant criminal behaviours frowned at by the state.
“It is on this note that I implore Individuals, Corporate Bodies and Non-Governmental Organizations not to see youth empowerment as the sole responsibility of the government.
“This is because empowerment fused together by these entities will definitely create huge awareness for youths in the society to become highly engaged and productive.
This engagement will therefore deter the youths from seeing pleasures in any act that threatens the security of the state,” Eseyin said.
He therefore, urged the youth to reciprocate the gesture of government by being volunteer agents who would constantly report individuals or groups whose activities have the potential to foist insecurity to the appropriate security agencies.
Mr Adebanji Aiyelabowo, the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Youth Empowerment (Kogi West), said the essence of the summit was to complement the effort of the governor in ensuring security of lives and property in Kogi especially in the west.
“Many youths are being engaged in all sectors of the economy in Kogi especially in Agriculture, health, security (Vigilantes recruitment), among others.
“So in order to sustain and maintain this gesture, we must continue to collaborate with all the security agencies across the state.
“We therefore, call for your support and commitment in making this security summit a reality,” he said.
The the theme of the summit was “Security: Key To Youth Empowerment”.
Hon Aiyelabowo A. Adebanji, SSA to Kogi Governor on Youth Empowerment (West), delivering his speech at the Kogi West Youth Empowerment/Security Summit & Launching of “Kogi Must Remain Safe” Campaign
Hon Deola Eseyin, SA to Kogi Governor on Youths Empowerment, Sports and Students’ Affairs, delivering his speech at the Kogi West Youth Empowerment/Security Summit &Launching of “Kogi Must Remain Safe” Campaign
Credits: Stephen Adeleye | NAN
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