ABUJA – The Minister of Power, Prof. Chinedu Nebo, has advised youths to shun all acts of violence during and after the forthcoming general elections.
Nebo gave the advice at a Youth Impact Summit on the 2015 elections organised by the Youth Initiative for Leadership and Rural Development (YILARD).
Nebo, who was represented at the occasion by Dr Albert Okorogwu, his Senior Special Assistant, stressed the need for youths to be agents of positive change.
He said the administration of President Goodluck Jonathan was doing a lot to empower youths, and urged them to key into the various programmes initiated by the government.
The minister cited the YouWin programme, power sector training programme, NAPEP, Sure-P and other skills acquisition programmes aimed at developing and empowering youths.
Nebo also urged them to be law-abiding and avoid being enticed with money to ferment trouble during elections.
‘You must continue to be peaceful and shun any politician who tries to use you to foment trouble during elections,’’ he said
He said that the government would continue to empower and carry youths along in the governance process.
YILARD chairman James Iloefe said the programme was put together to educate and sensitise the youths to the need for violence –free elections.
“This programme is meant to sensitise the youths to the need to shun violence during the upcoming elections.
“It is on record that most of the violence during elections were perpetrated by naïve youths; that is why we need to continue to educate them on this,’’ he said.
He stressed the need for youths to learn to articulate their views and present them to constituted authorities instead of engaging in violence.
Iloefe said the present administration was currently doing a lot for women and youths, and urged those of voting age to vote for continuity in the interest of the nation.
Youth organisations, students, NGOS and officials from the Office of the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Youth and Students Matters attended the event.