Organisers of Ekiti Youth Agenda have been lauded for their giant strides aimed at revamping and changing the mind set of Ekiti youths.
The Director General, Council for Arts and Culture, Ambassador Wale Ojo Lanre, gave the commendation during a courtesy visit of the executive members of the body to his office in Ado-Ekiti.
Ojo Lanre who expressed worry at the level of moral decadence among the youths, noted that the initiative of Ekiti Youth Agenda would not only serve as an antidote to social vices among the youths, but would equally influence them to imbibe, exhibit and extol the virtues of diligence and integrity that Ekiti is known for.
He assured the body of the government absolute support for the youths particularly in the Arts and Culture Sector, emphasizing the Dr. Kayode Fayemi-led administration keen interest in the regeneration and promotion of Ekiti pristine Culture.
Describing the Council for Arts and Culture as an epitome of Ekiti values in terms of Arts Culture and Tradition, the Permanent Secretary of the Council, Alhaji Ganiyu Ibrahim, expressed optimism in Ekiti youths as evident in their demonstration of maturity through laudable programs, urging them to emulate the gesture of the organization.
Speaking earlier, the convener of Ekiti Youth Agenda, Ms Abimbola Aladejare, said the body has taken the initiative to develop the teeming youths, which influenced their decision to hold peace rally across the sixteen local government areas of the State, to sensitize youths on the need to be peaceful and promote issue-based campaigns during the build-up into the last gubernatorial elections in Ekiti State.
Observing that Ekiti youths are creative and passionate about progress and development, Aladejare informed that the body has identified five youth priority needs which includes, health, education, poverty reduction, job creation and agriculture for government’s intervention as a way of delivering the dividend of democracy and making the elected accountable to the electorate.
Pledging to support the Dr. Kayode Fayemi-led administration to ensure that democracy delivers for youths and other demographics in Ekiti State as a way to build their confidence, the convener submitted that the body have succeeded in holding peace concerts and rallies in all the 177 wards of Ekiti State, with its message of non-violent elections, with support from the National Democratic Institute (NDI),United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and British Department for International Development (DFID), while technical members have been trained in line with the five priority areas for implementation.
Packaged by Emmanuel Adeniran
