Group tasks Anambra youths on utilization of skills, talents for nation building

By Praise Chinecherem

Executive Director, Catch Them Young Community Initiative (CATYCOI), Nonso Orakwe has charged Nigerian youths to take up leadership responsibilities and make the best of the positions for service through their talent and skills.

Orakwe gave the charge in Awka, Anambra State during a leadership training for youths in tertiary institutions in Anambra state to mark the celebration of International Youth Month.

He said the training was targeted at engaging the youths in the state in civic participation, governance, and peace building.

He said, “The long awaited future is here. It’s indeed time for young people to take up the mantle of leadership and make the best of the position by truly serving the people using their God given talent and skills,” he said.

The Program Manager of CATYCOI, Israel Orji underscored the significance of civic engagement within communities, stressing need for youth involvement in enhancing and advancing community welfare.

He highlighted key themes of the training to include Leadership, Civic engagement, community and organizational skills, among others.

According to him, leadership plays a pivotal role in guiding aspiring young leaders towards achieving their objectives.

“A leader is someone inherently inclined to influence others towards accomplishing shared goals.

“A good leader must possess decision-making process, effective communication skills, empathy, integrity, and strong communication abilities,” he added.

Reacting, participants at the meeting recounted their experiences of civic engagement within their respective communities, ranging from medical outreach and local clean-ups to tutoring, voting, and protest.

A student from School of Pharmacy Iyienu Ogidi, Onyeme Uchechi, expressed optimism that lessons garnered from the training would enhance her leadership approach.

Nwaeze Stephen, founder of YES-Africa, shared his inspiration to take on more impactful initiatives and requested CATYCOI’s involvement in addressing a group of young individuals he intends to mobilize in September.

Ikegbuna Ebubechukwu Hillary, representing Rotaract Club of Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital, Nnewi campus listed his contributions to enhancing student life, assuring that the training would assist him in rallying students as agents of change.

Israel concluded by stressing the significance of key steps in effective advocacy:

Clearly defining the advocacy goal, intentions, and desired achievements. Understanding the audience, necessitating the study of audience personalities to avoid misunderstandings and embarrassment. Crafting messages that delve into the core issues while being conscious of timing. Identifying a suitable messenger, selecting a key speaker to effectively convey the message. Determining the appropriate delivery method, such as radio jingles or sensitization campaigns. Retention of the Report:

Regarding advocacy, a strategy where groups advocate for community interests and solutions, He elucidated that such efforts greatly contribute to community organization. He detailed various skills pivotal in achieving advocacy goals, including leader and member recruitment, leadership development, effective meeting planning and facilitation, and proficient public speaking through media.