IYD: I’m proud of you for shunning the #EndBadGovernance protest, Gov AbdulRazaq tells Kwara youth
In commemoration of this year’s International Youth Day celebration, the Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq has commended the youths in the state for choosing peace over chaos during the nationwide protest against bad governance.
The theme for this year is ‘From Clicks to Progress: Youth Digital Pathways for Sustainable Development’.
Represented by the Commissioner for Environment and Forestry Nafisat Musa Buge, the governor, while speaking in Ilorin at an event to mark the day, hailed the youths, particularly kwarans, for always choosing peace over chaos and hope over despair in response to some national events.
He said, “I am particularly proud of how you all chose peace over chaos and hope over despair in response to some national events. Your response has become a national reference in how young people handle sensitive issues. I assure you that our administration will continue to prioritize programmes, projects, and initiatives that give young people a fair shot at life.”
“As we celebrate International Youth Day today, I expect that you will leave this gathering with better insights and resolve on how to become greater through education, ethical use of the new media, hard work, productive engagements, and positive thinking.”
“I also want you to pick the right network of friends and choose a brighter future, dignity and self-respect, and good health over hard drugs, crimes, and the humiliation that comes with it.”
The Governor added that the International Youth Day is celebrated every 12th of August to recognise the relevance, power, potential, and contributions of young people to our world.
“If you look critically at many of our projects and programmes, you can see how they have been conceived to offer you a brighter future. From Innovation Hub, Sugar Film Factory, Visual Arts Centre, and the Garment Factory, and a few others, we are clear-eyed about what we want for our young people in line with the global trends,” he said.
“As we gather here, we have public school students enrolled in our free summer coding and digital literacy classes across the three senatorial districts. The idea is to empower them with the right skill sets and the orientation to thrive in the digital age.”
Also speaking at the event, the Kwara House of Assembly Speaker, Rt Hon Yakubu Salihu Danladi, represented by Hon. Rukayat Shittu, said it is essential to recognise that the voices and potentials of our youth are integral to building a sustainable future for our planet and urged young people to continue to explore vital connections between digital innovation and sustainable development.
“As we embrace the digital era, remember that technology is not an end but a means to create sustainable pathways forward. It is our responsibility as the youth to harness the set tools effectively, ensuring they serve the greater good,” he said.
Dr Olohungbebe, in his presentation, decried the rate at which some youth are fond of using social media to expose only negativities in their surroundings or about their leaders and advised them to turn a new leaf while urging them always to make themselves available for community services even if such engagements earn them no kobo, saying posterity will reward them one day.
