Abia State Commisioner For Infornation, Chief John Okiyi Kalu, has called on the youths of the state to make themselves catalysts for the rapid development of the state, Igbere TV reports.
He made the call when members of Okezuo Abia Youth Wing (OYW) led by their cordinator, Honorable Kalu Orji, paid him a courtesy visit in his office, describing the youths as the focused group for the second term plan of Governor Okezie Ikpeazu.
He said: “The second term of Governor Okezie Ikpeazu is focused on you as we hope to leverage the rapid development of the state on your enormous energy through job creation, skill acquisition and educational development. Our trans-generational leader, Governor Okezie Ikpeazu, plans to put in place the necessary framework for the creation of 700,000 new jobs in the next ten years, deliver 14 new model schools, 350 new classroom blocks and support ICT skill development programs from primary school level to advanced levels in the hope that many of you will emerge as Techpreneurs.”
Chief Okiyi expressed appreciation to members of the group for the role they played in ensuring the re-election of Governor Okezie Ikpeazu and assured them that their labor will not be in vain as, according to him, the Governor has plans to engage them productively. He called on them to lead the campaign against the use of hard drugs by young people, rape, kidnapping and indiscriminate dumping of wastes in the state.
Earlier in his address, Honorable Kalu Orji said the group visited the Commssioner to congratulate him on his inauguration as the Commissioner for Information as well as assure him of the support of the group to the Governor as he embarks on the task of reforming the public sector in the state. He used the occasion to request that members of the group be factored in when the Governor is making key appointments and empowering the citizens as, according to him, they have qualified members that can serve at any level to support the administration.
Also speaking, the Secretary General of the group, Hon Chimaraoke Nwogu, called on the state government to continue to focus on infrastructure development, Agriculture, education and security of lives and property of the people of the state to ensure her rapid development. He also expressed appreciation to the Governor for the appointments made so far which, according to him, showed his determination to fulfill the promise he made to run his second term with youths as the pivot.