From Fred Itua, Abuja

The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) has trained 2,457 youths in digital marketing and other information technology entrepreneurial skills in Kogi State.

Declaring the training open, the Special Adviser on SDGs to the governor, Mr. Abdulmumeen Okara, stated that the objective of the training was to ensure that youths were presented with different opportunities to make them self-reliant in terms of job creation and job opportunities.

He said: “With an enabling environment for youth empowerment, national development efforts are not only accelerated but sustainable as well.

“The number one goal of the sustainable development agenda is to eradicate poverty in all its forms and when you equip the youth with modern technology you are surely moving them out of poverty.

“This programme underscores the need for state and national efforts to support youth development through the creation of opportunities for youth participation in all spheres of our national life.

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“The role of youth in their own development cannot be overemphasised.

“I urge the youth here to take an active part in their affairs and make responsible use of opportunities created for youth empowerment.”

Okara highlighted the need for youth to pursue self-help options, in terms of networks for both economic and social well-being, such as youth cooperatives and clubs that would be a beneficial example of positive engagement and, therefore, charged them to seek opportunities to advance their economic and social well-being, even as he urged them to shun violence, delinquency and other vices.

While thanking the Senior Special Assistant to the President on SDGs for collaborating with the Kogi State SDGs office to make the training a success, Okara pledged the state’s continuous support and collaboration to develop the skills of youths in the area of information technology.

He said one of the five thematic points of the Governor Yahaya Bello administration in Kogi State was job creation and youth development, noting that the “New Direction” government has trained over 5,000 youths in various skill programmes since February this year and was committed to do more.