FORMER Minister of Youths and Sports, Chief , has urged Nigerian youths to participate actively in community, self-help developmental projects, to improve the living conditions of rural dwellers in the country.
Senator Nwobodo who gave the advise on Sunday in his country home, Amaechi Awkunanaw in Enugu State when members of his community under the auspices of Amaechi Development Union (ADU) elected its new officials to pilot the affairs of the town for next four yeas, said “these self-help projects will make life more meaningful for the rural dwellers and check rural-urban migration in the country.’’
The former governor of old Anambra State also emphasized the need for peace and love to reign in communities to fast track socio-economic development.
‘‘It is good that everybody especially youths that have the zeal and resources should work collectively with elected communities’ officials in enthroning social amenities in communities in the country.
‘‘Government cannot do it alone,’’ Nwobodo, who is from Amaechi community, advised.
Earlier, the traditional ruler of the community, Igwe Aneke Ogbodo, lamented that the community lacked potable water and adequate medical facilities.
Ogbodo noted that the borehole and overhead tank installed in the community by the government had not functioned since the last 10 years.
The royal father, therefore, said ‘‘much is expected from the newly elected leadership of the community executives to reverse these ugly trends.’’
In his address, the new President-General of ADU, Mr John Egbo, a one time State Commissioner for Environment, assured that he would champion the cause of rural development in Amaechi community.
Egbo said he would utilise the various opportunities being provided by the current administration of Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi to develop the community, adding that he would assess the N10 million grant from the state government to provide social amenities to rural arrears under the Visit Every Community (VEC) project to develop the area.
He also said that his leadership would extract the community’s own royalties from Gariki Market Parks entrusted to Enugu South Local Government Area and utilise the money for provision of social amenities.
A leader in the community, Chief Hyacinth Ngwu, described the election of Egbo-led executive as a good omen for the community’s overall development.
Ngwu, who is the APC Publicity Secretary in the South-East, noted that Egbo would bring his experience garnered while he served in government business and abroad to bear in his new position.
Some of the newly-elected executives included: Ikechukwu Edo (1st Vice President), Brista Ani (2nd Vice President) and Dan Onyia (Secretary-General).
Others were Dan Agbo (Financial Sec.), Emma Nsude (Treasurer), Okenna Joseph (Auditor-Gen.), Sunday Ugwu (PRO) and Emma Nwachukwu (provost 1).
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