Ooni charges youths on skills acquisition for economic independence

The Ooni of Ife, Oba Enitan Adeyeye Ogunwusi has charged Nigerian youths on the need to acquire skills, capable of aiding their economic independence and contribution to national development.

Oba Ogunwusi, who gave the charge while hosting the 4th Youths and Women empowerment summit in Ile-Ife on Friday said necessary support and encouragement should be given the youth to realise their full potentials in life.

Ooni also utilised the occasion to unveil the physically challenged initiative aimed at assisting individuals with disabilities, just as he advised the youth to eschew acts that can thwart their dreams as responsible citizens of the country.

According to a statement issued by Ooni’s director of media relations and public affairs, Comrade Moses Olafare on Sunday, Oba Ogunwusi was quoted to have said that the success of the initiatives within the last four years has revealed to him that “it is only a lazy youth that will remain idle in life.”

The monarch said, “this initiative covers all categories of individuals across vital economic sectors, including the specially created ones that most of you refer to as the physically challenged.

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“I hereby call on our teeming youths and women across Ile Ife and beyond to take advantage of this initiative which is absolutely free to acquire necessary skills for absolute economic independence and all round prosperity.”

Earlier, in her speech, the lead speaker at the event, Chief (Mrs) Alaba Lawson, who was represented by Chief (Mrs.) Anita Nana Okuribido commended Ooni for the initiative which she described as a leading light out of the country’s worrisome unemployment rate.

Lawson, who is the President of Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA), maintained that with such an initiative, Nigeria stands on the threshold of what could be the greatest transformation in the country’s history.

The summit was attended by notable entrepreneurs, top government functionaries, beneficiaries of previous editions, physically challenged individuals and students.