National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN) has called on youths in Anambra State to embrace real estate opportunities to become wealth and job creators.
Anambra State Chairman, Surveyor Obi Emeka Chukwudi made the call during a one-day Anambra Youth Investment Summit held in Awka, the state capital.
The summit, was to expose youths to opportunities that abound in the real estate business, to enable them become self reliant and sustaining.
Obi described citizens of the state as bedrock of meaningful development anywhere they find themselves, stressing the need for them to should join forces with government of the day towards accelerated development of the state.
He praised Governor Chukwuma Soludo’s efforts towards youth development, evident in numerous youth empowerment programmes being driven by State Ministry of Youths.
He said the programmes had not only lifted many youths out of poverty, but turned several youths in the state to millionaires.
“The governor has been strategic and intentional about his agenda for youth development. The one-youth-two-skills initiative through which over 2000 youths have been empowered in various skills and businesses, is commendable.
“We also wish to commend the State Commissioner for Youths, Mr Patrick Aghamba for driving the governor’s agenda through his ministry and the NYCN has been supportive of the initiatives.
“This is why our people must support the governor so he can succeed,” he said.
According to the NYCN boss, the maiden Anambra Youth Real Estate Investor Summit was targeted at unleashing the opportunities in Real Estate on youths.
He said, “As many of us know, there is no available white collar job at the moment in Nigeria, and it has caused massive unemployment, and there is need for smarter options such as the real estate business.
“From my first one year in office, we have explored several opportunities to ensure that our youths have means of livelihood.
“So on this note, we are partnering POOLKING REAL ESTATE LIMITED to speak on how our youths can utilize the opportunity of real estate business to shape their future.
“We therefore wish to commend the commander of Anambra youths, Commander Gabriel Chukwunwendu, the CEO PoolKing Limited for his show of love to Anambra and Nigerian youths at large for sponsoring this summit single handedly for us to have a livable society.”
He added, “We want people of the state to ensure every family consider the state as their first investment choice destination. We have our people across the country developing other states.
“We want them to bring their investment home to assist our dear Governor in developing our state. Anambra is the bedrock of development and beacon of hope in terms of infrastructure.
“We must have to be patriotic. We want all participants in this summit to take the message to their various communities of the need to foster development.
“As a body, our core mandate is to empower the youths of the state. That we’ve started doing by empowering them with POS and cash seeds to start their daily earnings.
“We’re currently talking with our critical stakeholders to assist those already trained under One Youth, Two Skills with various empowerment to cushion the economic hardship.
“We’re resolute to ensure the youths are gainfully empowered to end youths restiveness in the state.”
Vice Chancellor, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Anambra State, Prof Charles Esimone, identified increased government investment in education, skill acquisition initiatives and mentorship as sure ways to harness dormant talents to become self-reliant.
He said that Nigeria is blessed with vibrant and dynamic youths, representing approximately 60 percent of the population, hence, the need to empower and prepare them to contribute to the economic system.
“This event provides opportunity to think out of the box, think about skills, and develop an entrepreneurial mindset to transform from dependency to solution provider.
“We need to stimulate the youths to fill up the gaps and turn around the economy of the nation,” he said.
Also speaking, Chief Executive Officer, PoolKing Real Estate and Anambra State Youth Commander Gabriel Chukwunwendu said his decision to partner the NYCN on the initiative, was to nurture and groom youths in real estate sector based on emerging and contemporary development in the nation.
“This will help guarantee youths’ economic sustainability and ensure the sector has steady supply of professionals that will be readily available to service it at any point in time. I’m all out to empower the youths,” he added.