DELTA State Governor, Dr Emmanuel Uduaghan has challenged Nigerian youths not to wait till when they are older before working for the country to be great.
He stated that youths should be involved actively in the development of the country by engaging in positive actions.
The Governor through his Commissioner for Information, Barr. Chike Ogeah made the call at the weekend while speaking at ‘The Nigeria Symposium For Young And Emerging Leaders’ organised by The Future Project in Ikogosi, Ekiti State.
According to him, “contrary to the belief that the youths are the future of the country, the future is here and now”, adding, “there is no time to waste, if we had time in the past, time has today become very scarce.”
“With the dawn of globalisation and the information superhighway, the game has changed”, the Governor said, reiterating, “ranging from politics, science, technology and entrepreneurship, the youths are unrelenting in carving a niche in designing and redesigning the present and future.”
The Governor asked: “shall we not pay tribute to great youth leaders of the past like Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, Chief Anthony Enahoro, Dr Femi Otegbeye and many others who committed very early and actively to shaping the destiny of this country and her people one way or the other throughout their earthly sojourn?”
He emphasized that youths should shun societal vices adding: “we cannot continue the ‘we’ versus ‘them’ attitude or indeed, the ‘siddon look,’ apologies to Bola Ige of blessed memory.”
Dr Uduaghan stressed that his administration was greatly involved in human capital development, and particularly committed to making the schools in the state of international standards.
The Governor of Rivers State, Rt. Hon. Rotimi Amaechi at the occasion decried corruption among political office holders stating that corruption has to be stopped in the country.
To the Governor of Ekiti State, Dr. Kayode Fayemi Nigerian youths must continuously fight for good governance and democracy.
The Chief Executive Officer of Sahara Energy Group, Mr Tonye Cole commended Governors Uduaghan, Amaechi and Fayemi for changing the perception ofpeople positively on what politics ought to be.
He urged the youths to be involved in politics, stating: “you cannot change government from outside, you have to be involved.”
Uduaghan Urges Mothers to Be Prayerful
Delta State governor Dr Emmanuel Uduaghan has urged mothers to be prayerful and bring up their children in the way of the Lord.
Dr Uduaghan who gave this charge today while speaking at the 2013 Patron Feast Day Celebration of the St Benedict’s Catholic Church, Ubiaja, Edo State called on mothers to always make sacrifices for the development of their children as they would be bountifully blessed in future.
He observed that his mother Mrs Cecilia Uduaghan who was an embodiment of the Christian mother made a lot of sacrifices to ensure the development of all her children and today her love, patience and Christian virtues have paid off in her children’s lives as they are contributing meaningfully to the development of their communities.
The governor who was one of the nine awardees of the Service to Humanity award explained that the award was very important to him as it reflected the good qualities and Christian beliefs of his beloved mother.
He urged all Christian faithfuls to make meaningful contributions to the development of their communities and Christendom as they would be richly blessed by their actions.
Governor Uduaghan stated that “Service to humanity is the best any man can give to his society. You don’t need to have money to contribute to your society.”
He continued, “My mother was not rich but she was dedicated to the development of church and her community with the little she had. She brought up her children to see the virtues in help out the needy and the poor in the society and contributing to community development.”
The governor, on behalf of the awardees, assured the parish priest and members of the St Benedict’s Catholic Church of their continuous support and contributions, promising that they would continue to assist the development of the church.
He also commended the people of Edo State for accepting him as one of their own stating that he has benefitted positively from his relationship with them.
In his sermon, Rev Father Francis Omolumen admonished Christian faithfuls to always put their faith in God and serve humanity in the best way possible. He charged them not to be like the doubting Thomas who wanted to see before believing but to have faith in the holy spirit.
He said “As Christians, we must have faith as it is indispensable. We need the assistance of the Holy Spirit who will enlighten us, strengthen us and give us the grace so that we can have faith even though we have not seen”.
Rev Omolumen described the award as a way to appreciate God for his goodness and the awardees for their service to humanity. He challenged others to make meaningful contributions to their society and the less privileged.
He described Governor Uduaghan as a man with a God-given heart who have contributed to the development of the society especially Ubiaja town and his fellow men. He listed various social and humanitarian projects he has carried out in the parish and called for God’s protection, blessings and guidance for him and his family.
Rev Father Omolumen said the feast was a celebration in honour of their Patron Saint, St Benedict of Philadelphia who was the patron Saint of all black people, African-Americans and African mission.
He explained that as patron saint of the church, the celebration would enable St Benedict to intercede for all and served as a means of enlightenment of Catholic faithfuls in the church.
Other awardees included amongst others the Deputy Speaker, Edo State House of Assembly Rt Hon. Festus Ebea, Elder Fred Ijewere, Mrs Agatha Ehumuan, Elder Okhurebor and Chief Omochere Aisagbonhi.
