The Peoples Democratic Party governorship candidate in Abia State, Dr Kelechi Anosike, has pledged to place youth development and agriculture at the centre of his administration, saying young people must be allowed to contribute meaningfully to the state’s progress.
Anosike stated this at the Ohuhu Youth Day held at Afugiri Central School, Ohuhu, where he urged young people in the state to support his 2027 governorship ambition.
Anosike said any administration without a programme for young people did not understand the future, stressing that youths would play a major role in shaping society.
“Any government that does not have a programme for the youths does not understand the future because the youths are the future,” he said.
Anosike identified agriculture as a major avenue for job creation and food security in Abia, saying his welfare agenda would include Operation Feed Abia, a deliberate back-to-farm policy aimed at engaging youths in agriculture.
He commended the Ohuhu youth leadership for engaging young people constructively in agriculture and information and communication technology and announced a N1m donation to support the group’s agricultural programme.
Anosike also promised to create opportunities for Abia youths to work for companies in Asia and Europe through virtual employment if elected governor.
“If elected, we will go beyond this. We intend to start programmes whereby even if you are in any part of Abia State, you can work in companies in Asia or Europe through what we call the Abia Global Opportunity Agency,” he said.
He urged Ohuhu youths to see his 2027 governorship ambition as their collective project and called for their support.
I believe in the future of Ohuhu Youth and all the youths of Abia State. Any other programme you are doing, call on me, I will support you,” Anosike added.
The chairman of the event, Royal High Chief Ugochukwu Edozie, praised the youth leadership for being visionary and embarking on programmes that were impacting lives.
Edozie also urged the group to make the Ohuhu Youth Day an annual event.
Earlier, the President of the Ohuhu Welfare Union Youth Wing, Chief Uchenna Iheanacho, said the organisation had empowered more than 300 people through farming and skills training.
Iheanacho said the group required about N75m for its next phase of projects, including an agriculture and free farming loan scheme, anti-drug abuse and anti-cultism campaigns, health awareness programmes, ICT training for 50 students and vocational training.
He appealed to the government, corporate organisations and philanthropists to support the Ohuhu youths in achieving their objectives.
At the event, Anosike was also honoured with a Visionary Leadership Award by the Ohuhu Youth Wing of the Ohuhu Welfare Union.
The award was presented to him by the traditional ruler of Umudiawa Autonomous Community, Eze Nnamdi Ofoegbu.
Punch
