Fides Media Living the Faith
By Jude Atupulazi
Eight youths, two each from the four villages that make up Nimo Town, in Njikoka LGA of Anambra State, have been empowered with N250, 000 each under the maiden empowerment programme organized by the Nimo Town Development Union, NTDU, Youth Wing, September 24, 2023.
The event which took place at the town’s Egwegwe Square, saw many youths donning white tee-shirts with the inscriptions, ”Nimo Youths for Peace and Development, also featured the unveiling of the youth acquisition centre sponsored by Senator Uche Ekwunife.
The gesture, Fides gathered, was aimed at dissuading the youths of Nimo from wallowing in self-pity due to unexamined life; youthful exuberance and sundry social vices, owing to lack of value and meaningful engagement.
Speaking during the empowerment programme, the President General of Nimo Town Development Union, Youth Wing, Mr Gold Obiefuna, said the programme was to key into the state government’s efforts in youth empowerment and development.
He cautioned against actions that could hamper the on ongoing development efforts in the community, stressing that respect to the rule of law and constituted authorities remained vital to the growth and well-being of any human society.
The beneficiaries of the empowerment were Ugo Ngukor and
Dom Ezeoke from Etiti-Nimo Village; Akunna kingsley Chidi and
Melody Fredrick Chukwuma from Ifite-Enu Village; Uchenna Anyadiegwu and Ikejide John Paul from Egbengwu Village and Uchenna Edochie, Fabian Ogbuabana from Ifite-Ani Village.
The Nimo Youth Empowerment Programme was preceded by the inauguration of the caretaker committees of the youth wings of four communities in Awka, the previous day, by the President of ASATU Youth Wing, Hon Ken Okolie, who made it clear that the ASATU Constitution provided for the conduct of youth leadership elections by ASATU but that where elections were not conducted the PG of the concerned community had the power to appoint a caretaker committee that would be operating, pending the conduct of elections.
The NTDU Youth Wing leadership was later blessed by the Dean of Nimo Catholic Deanery, Rev Fr Alfred Anazodo, at St Vincent’s Parish, Nimo.
However, the empowerment scheme was nearly marred by the invasion of the venue by a rival youth group who tore up the canopies, burnt them and took away all the seats at the venue. They later left the venue and proceeded to the palace of the traditional ruler, Igwe Maxi Ike Oliobi, but failing to gain entrance, destroyed the new yam festival billboard that had the picture of the monarch. They thereafter moved off to attack the homes of one of the chiefs, Emma Ndubisi and the PG of the town, Ekene Nna Okafor-Omabu.
One of the leaders of the rival group later claimed that his house was also attacked.
However, the attack could not stop the empowerment programme which was successfully held and concluded.