The wife of the Governor of Enugu State, Mrs. Monica Ugochi Ugwuanyi has advised the youths to be wary of those who may seek their attention and company for the wrong reasons, especially now that electioneering campaigns were in the offing.
She stated this at Ogbede, the headquarters of Igbo-Etiti LGA of the state during a youth summit and award presentation ceremony of the Igbo-Etiti chapter of Youth for Gburugburu.
According to the first lady, the Nigerian youth was not lazy, but hard working, creative, and a resourceful person who usually achieved his purpose when he applied the right approach to life.
She told the youths that while it was heart-warming they wished to identify with the Governor, they had to go all out to be inspired by his exemplary lifestyles.
She said, “if you must be like him, you must behave like him. You must be contented, be hard working, shun trouble, be a peace maker. These are some of his virtues we all know. Again, if you must make it in life, you must be on your own. You must know that everything about your own life is in your own hands. We are here to empower, support and encourage each other to become the best. You don’t want to be lazy. So work hard because he works hard for his success.”
In his welcome remarks, the Executive Chairman of Igbo-Etiti LGA, Hon. Malachy Agbo, thanked the First Lady and her husband for their bond with the people of Igbo Etiti, as they never hid their love for anything that concerned the area as was exemplified by her visit to motivate and spur the youths to higher goals and attainment of success.
Agbo said “we immensely appreciate what you have come to do. I thank you for your bond with our people. Our youths are solidly behind you and His Excellency. We can assure you that as they are here in their throngs they all have their voters cards and will do the needful when the time comes. Convey to him our commitment to peace and the support of the government in all their good programmes for the betterment of our people.”
The President General of Ohaneze Ndigbo, Chief Dr. John Nnia Nwodo Jr. in his rousing speech while reaffirming that the Nigerian youths were not lazy, urged them to stand up for what was right and just. He told them if they ever hoped to make any difference, they must realize that short cuts were no option. He said the youths must stretch their imaginations to capture the world.
The Chairman of the occasion, Prof. Simon Ortuanya who is the Director General South East Governors’ Forum observed that the First Lady and her husband, Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi were good inspirations to the youths worthy of emulation. He also reiterated the recurring theme of the youths not being lazy, but urged them to tap into their abundant energy and creative resources to achieve greatness.
The Patron of the group Hon. Mrs. Eucharia Offor, who is also the Commissioner for Finance Enugu State thanked the First Lady for coming to mentor the youths especially considering the current social and economic problems they were grappling with that made it more challenging to survive. He reaffirmed the determination of the Igbo-Etiti youths to vote en mass come 2019 to return the Governor to office for a well deserved second tenure.
The youths were taken through capacity building lectures in papers delivered by Mr Anayo Agu, the SPA to the Governor on SMEs and Investment Promotion, Hon. Fide Odo, the Chairman of Igbo-Eze South LGA and Hon. Malachy Ugwu, the Director, People’s Democratic Institute, Abuja and a former Chairman of Igbo-Etiti LGA.
The occasion was attended by many dignitaries like Arch. Chris Offor, the Chairman of the Committee on Urban Renewal; Barr. Mrs. Nkechi Ugwuoju, the Chairman of PDP Igbo- Etiti; some former Chairmen of the council; serving senior officials of the council, community leaders and members of the public.
