The Edo State Government is gearing up to launch exchange programs aimed at training and retraining youths in the state and redirecting their focus towards positive endeavors.
This announcement was made by the Commissioner for Youth and Humanitarian Affairs, Hon. Zubairu Dada Abubakar during a visit by the state Coordinator of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Mrs. Foluke Oladeinde, with some serving members in the state.
The Commissioner revealed that collaborations are underway with Edo citizens in the United States of America to introduce programs that offer scholarships and remote job opportunities for youths in Benin, Owan, Ishan, and Afemai.
He said, “We are working with Edo citizens in the United States of America to introduce programmes for youths in Benin, Owan, Ishan and Afemai to assist them with scholarships and remote jobs that will make it possible for them to work from here.
“We are going to start with 18 youths, one per local government and later, one per ward across the state.
“As a Ministry, our primary assignment is to give youths hope, to rekindle confidence in them. We know the problems of the youths, cultism, cybercrime and drug abuse, especially now, because of the economy.
“We know that not all of the youths are bad, but the good ones live in the same society with the bad ones. The only way we can curb peer pressure is to do what we can to positively affect their lives and to redirect their focus positively.”
The Commissioner expressed the Ministry’s willingness to consider ideas that promote the progress of youths in the state. Additionally, he reassured that immediate concerns and projects at the permanent NYSC camp would be addressed.
In response, the State Coordinator of NYSC, Mrs. Oladeinde, expressed gratitude to Governor Godwin Obaseki for appointing Hon. Abubakar as Commissioner, recognizing his dedication to youth development at the grassroots level.
She commended his passion for youths, evident through his presence at the recent passing out ceremony of Youth Corps members, despite the rain.
As a token of appreciation, the NYSC Coordinator presented a painting created by a corps member and a greeting card to the Commissioner during the visit.
