•Inaugurates Enugu State 4th Assembly
•As Amb. Ugwu Fidelis Chukwudi Emerges State Speaker.
Enugu State was abuzz throughout the week as the National Youth Assembly of Nigeria, NYAN held her elective convention in Enugu State. This eventful outing was commemorated by a South-east zonal youth assembly summit held at the legislative building of Enugu State House of Assembly.
The Summit, which was organized by the youth Assembly in collaboration with the office of the SA to Enugu Governor on Youth and students Affairs, Hon. Prisca Okeke was massively graced by influential figures across the South-East and has been adjudged the most successful Youth program in recent times. Dignitaries drawn from Enugu State Government, Enugu State traditional rulers council, civil society organizations, captains of industries, youth leaders and youth organizations as well as student leaders, set the state House of Assembly buzzing.
Our correspondent reports that the youth Assembly had on the 2nd of July held an elective congress to usher in the 4th Assembly of the State Chapter of the Assembly where Amb. Ugwu Fidelis Chukwudi emerged as the Speaker of the Assembly in Enugu State following an unchallenged consensus vote of confidence.
Speaking on the theme of the Summit, Governance: A Corporate Responsibility of Government and Citizens, the Governor of Enugu State, ably represented by the secretary to the state government, Prof. Chidiebere Onyia, elaborated on the role of government in governance. He reeled out the numerous developmental projects the government is undertaking across the state, while explaining how the government deployed digitized models to track governance and ensure transparency, accountability and delivery.
“Young people must hold the government accountable, but must do so constructively”, Prof. Onyia declared, while advising the youth to always seek clarity of government blueprint to avoid criticizing unjustly and blindly. He further argued that accountability must be based on a transparent framework. To effectively criticise, one must engage these frameworks adequately.
Speaking during the event, his Royal Majesty, Igwe Samuel Asadu, the Chairman traditional rulers council, Enugu State and a ranking monarch in the west African traditional rulers council, admonished the youth to always be productive while engaging government objectively. He reiterated his open arms and continued support for the Assembly, stating that the major reason he returned to take the throne was to use the throne to support young people. He decried the decaying system of the nation, noting that those who are in different leadership positions today enjoyed a better country than what they are currently presiding over.
In his speech also, the Speaker of Enugu State House of Assembly, ably represented by Hon. Okey Mbah, urged the Assembly to help in advocating for citizens participation in law making, urging the Assembly to bring forward, actionable bills to the appropriate quarters while assuring that the citizens interests through such channels would be promptly addressed.
Other speakers at the eventful gathering include Hon. Obiajulu Princess, the Deputy chief whip, Enugu State House of Assembly, who spoke from the legislative point of view, urging the youth Assembly to always ask critical questions and engage in constructive legislative processes and criticisms.
Highlights of the day include the Inauguration of the 4th Assembly, led by Amb. Ugwu Fidelis Chukwudi and a handover from the former speaker Amb. Gabriel Odi to the new Speaker.
In his words, the new speaker affirmed his resolve to be vocal in advocating for the youths while ensuring that the youths shall constructively engage the government to ensure that dividends of democracy gets to the youth constituency.
“This is a new dawn for Enugu youths. NYAN under my leadership shall redefine youth participation in governance by engaging all relevant authorities to ensure that good governance is pursued at all times. This is not time to romanticize government, but a time to hold leaders accountable for their actions and demand good governance”. He declared.
When asked by newsmen what role he would play in engaging the government on security matters, the Speaker clarified that only lawful and constructive approaches would be followed to press the need for a more secure Enugu.
The event also saw a panel discussion around topics such as security, youth participation in governance and lots more.
It is left to be seen how the National Youth Assembly of Nigeria NYAN would reinvigorate youth participation here in Enugu.
No comments