Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe has linked the rising insecurity in the South East region to the erosion of values such as respect for human life, love, and unity among youths.
Abaribe, who represents Abia South senatorial district at the National Assembly, said it was time to revive trade schools and certifications to engage and support young people financially, preventing them from being exploited by criminals.
Speaking at the South East Youth Leadership Development and Value Reorientation Summit in Enugu on Friday, Abaribe stressed the importance of returning to the values of love, unity, truthfulness, and respect for human life to build a better future for the region.
He emphasised that by re-embracing these values, the youth can drive transformative change and create a more secure and prosperous Southeast region.
He said, “We must go back to those values upon which our communities were built, that of love, unity, truthfulness and respect for human life if we must have the kind of future that we want.”
He said that the time had come for youths in the region to fight the criminals who have continued to disrupt economic activities in the guise of demanding self-actualisation.
“As young people, you must understand your values and not be recruited as tools for destruction. “We are concerned about the youths of today who must understand that the future is theirs”, he said.
In her opening remarks, the Director-General of the South-East Governors Forum and convener of the summit, Senator Uche Ekwunife, emphasised the importance of empowering youths in driving regional growth and national development.
She stressed that the programme aims to inspire youths to become responsible leaders like Nnamdi Azikiwe, Alex Ekwueme, and Dora Akunyili, who have made significant contributions to the region’s history.
Ekwunife encouraged participants to introspect and explore ways to harness their potential, talents, and skills to bring about positive change in their communities, fostering a brighter future for the South East region and Nigeria as a whole.
“Our goal is to let the youths know that they can become the next generation of responsible leaders like Nnamdi Azikiwe, Alex Ekwueme and Dora Akunyili,” she said.