EKSG Celebrates Youths In SDGs, Charges Them On Impact Making

By
Abasi Femi Oguntayo

Ekiti State State Governor, Dr Kayode Fayemi, Ably represented by his Chief of Staff and chairman Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in the State, Biodun Omoleye, has celebrated Ekiti Youths on International Youths Day 2019 and charged them to make positive use of the social media and the technological advancement in the society.

Omoleye who made the charge yesterday, Thursday, 8th August, 2019 at the  2019 SDGs International Youth Day held at the Lady Jibowu Hall of the Government house grounds in Ado-Ekiti, said the world is now a global village, hence they should make good use of this to compete with their contemporaries globally.

He also educated the youths on the essence of the SDGs which according to him is to eradicate poverty globally and make the world a better place to live for everyone by  2030. He however urged the youths to make their impact felt in their respective communities.

The programme according to the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Sustainable Development Goals, Abimbola Solanke was the first of its kind in Ekiti State since 2015 when SDGs were adopted by World Leaders.

"It is worthy of note that Ekiti is fortunate to be part of the 21 States that will be celebrating 2019 Edition of International Youth Day facilitated by Nigerian Youths Network in SDGs.

"We need to let you know that since 2015 when Sustainable Development Goals was adopted by World Leaders, Ekiti State has not keyed into organizing and Converging Youths for SDGs Developmental oriented programs and also establishing impact driven structures and Networks that will enable Ekiti Youths take ownership of the Goals", She said.

Solanke opined that though government has a primary responsibility for implementing the SDGs, the goals do not belong to the government alone. According to her, the goals belong to everyone in every community, every State, in every Country and across the World. She urged the youths to take ownership for Community Impact.

She appreciated Governor Kayode Fayemi and his wife, Erelu Bisi Fayemi for their keen interest in the program and support towards the advocacy on actualizing SDGs in Ekiti State.

The State Commissioner for Youths and Sports, Mr Michael Awopetu who was also at the event urged the youths to be innovative and make use of the opportunity they have now, as they now have a governor that cherish and recognizes the youths.

"It would be recalled that the previous government of Ayo Fayose never had a ministry for the youths, because he didn't recognize the usefulness and the power of the youths. But today, we have a governor who recognizes the youths and have made sure we have a Ministry for Youths and Sports", Awopetu Said.

He however assured the Youths of his ministry's in collaboration with other MDAs and in partnership with the bureau of labour and Employment would ensure that the unemployed youths in the State are gainfully engaged and employed.

It was a moment of innovations and great motivations for the youths as their fellow young men and women of Ekiti Indigene, who are successful entrepreneurs, shared with the audience their impact stories and how they have been able to give back to their respective communities towards actualizing the SDGs.

Also present at the event were; the Commissioner for Information and Value Orientation, Muyiwa Olomilua, who was ably represented by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Adekumbi Obaisi, Permanent Secretary, Hospital Management, Dr. Williams Afolabi, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health and Human Services, Dr Mrs. F. Olomojobi, Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Public Health, Mr Opeyemi Ogunsakin, Special Assistant to the Governor on  Youths and Students Matters, Moses Ademiloye and other stakeholders in the State.