Youths Cautioned Against Slumbering, As Anambra Library, BPMGC Mark Intl Youth Day

By Izunna Okafor
Youths have been urged to wake up from their age-long sleep, and become responsible in order to be contributory to the progress and overall development of their society.

The Director, Anambra State Library Board, Dr. Nkechi Udeze made the call during the celebration of the 2020 International Youth Day, themed, "Youth Engagement for Global Action". The event which held at the Anambra State Library, Awka, the state capital, was organized by the State Library, in collaboration with the Benjy Poetry and Music Global Concepts.

According to Dr. Udeze, the responsibility for taking the country to a higher level rests majorly on the youths, which she said cannot realised or actualized if the youths do not wake up from their slumber. While highlighting the importance of library to the youths and every human of any age bracket, the Anambra Chief Librarian further urged to youths to rise up and take positive actions that would not only bring about a lasting solution to the societal problems, but also bring about overall progress of the society.

On his own part, the CEO, Benjy Poetry and Music Global Concepts, Mr. Benjamin Anabaraonye who presented poems in commemoration of the day, harped on the indispensability of youths and peace in the development of any society; and hence called on the youths to be responsible and peace advocates everywhere they find themselves so they can make positive impacts.

In their separate lectures, the CEO, Dream Weave Africa Consult, Mr. Ohaju Obed Ifeanyi; and the Lead Trainer, Jassy Coaching Services, Mr. Nwakpadolu Obinna respectively dissected youth engagement, vis-à-vis leadership and entrepreneurship

They further called on the youths to endeavour to have purpose, vision, passion, compassion in life, and to be responsible accountable and willing to sacrifice, in order make positive impacts and become problem solvers in the society, rather than part of the problems to be solved.  

Contributing, the President, Medical Women Association of Nigeria (Anambra State Chapter), Dr. Chioma Ajator who dwelt on youth engagement vis-à-vis global health, reminded the participants that COVID-19 is real, and disclosed that youths have been accused of being at the frontline in spreading the disease due to their negligence and carelessness, and also because youths tend to survive the disease than the aged.

While urging everyone to keep observing the WHO's COVID-19 protocols, the health expert also charged the youths to join and employ their skills and energy in the fight against COVID-19, by making people know more about the pandemic and the ways of curtailing its spread.

Others who spoke at the event included Pst. Nnaemeka Marcel Chijioke of the Living Faith Church, whose lecture focused on corruption, youths and drug abuse; and Mrs Uju Uzor of the Admin Dept., Ministry of Information, Anambra State, who joined voice to appreciate the Anambra State Library Board and the Benjy Poetry and Music Global Concepts for marking the day in such a special way, among other speakers.

First celebrated on August 12th, 2000, International Youth Day is a day set aside in 1999 by the United Nations, to annually celebrate and mainstream young peoples’ voices, actions and initiatives, as well as their meaningful, universal and equitable engagement, while also drawing attention to a plethora of  issues surrounding the youths.