By Obio Monday
Odukpani youths under the auspices of National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN) joined millions of youth all over the world to celebrate the 2019 International Youth Week.
As part of activities marking the week, the NYCN, Cross River State, set aside Wednesday, 7th August, 2019 for the week to be celebrated at the local government levels with the themes 'Education As A Catalyst To Community Development' and 'Transforming Education'. In line with this, youths drawn from different communities in the local government converged at the Odukpani Local Government Secretariat to chart a new course to ending the recurring communal clashes and other social vices in the local government.
Speaking at the event, a resource person, Dr. Ekanem Akak, a lecturer in the University of Calabar described development as a positive progress that involves building social basic amenities and development of the youth through education. Dr. Akak who spoke on the topic 'Education As A Catalyst To Community Development' decried the crisis plaguing the local government. He categorized education into formal and informal, stressing that any educated youth involved in social vices is a tout and uneducated. He urged the youths to eschew violence, gangsterism, cultism and other social vices.
Other dignitaries who spoke, expressed displeasure over the communal conflicts in the local and the involvement of youths in these conflicts.
Earlier, the State Chairman of the NYCN, Prince Ndiyo Ndiyo described youths as leaders of today, as such should live exemplary lifestyle. He also expressed regrets over the wanton killings in the LGA, calling on youths of the local government to desist from being used to perpetrate these acts. In his welcome remark, the Chapter Chairman of NYCN, Comr. Asuquo Edet stressed the inportance of week and the timeliness of the summit due to the incessant killings in Odukpani and the menace of cultism, drug abuse and other vices.
Highlights of the event featured presentation of certificate of return to the newly inaugurated chapter executives of NYCN, prayers for peace and unity in Odukpani.
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