The Ife Awkuzu Development Association has urged the government at all levels to focus more on programmes aimed at developing the skills of Nigerian youths to reduce unemployment and vices in society.

Emmanuel Nweke, national president of the association, made the call at the association’s second annual summit held at Awkuzu in the Oyi LGA.

Mr Nweke said prioritising human capital development would provide a solution to the majority of societal vices such as kidnapping, banditry, gunmen, terrorism and other anti-social behaviours plaguing the nation.

He lamented that many Nigerian youths had no skills or training that could give them decent jobs and a good quality of life, hence the increasing rate of poverty and crime in the country.

“The poverty ravaging the country currently is largely due to the fact that our leaders are neglecting the development of the most critical resources to help create jobs for the teaming youths roaming streets.

“I equally blame the youths because most of them do not participate in the skills acquisition programmes of the government, especially in Anambra where the state government is currently embarking on ‘1 youth-2 skills programme’.

“The human capital of any nation is the most critical and important part of that nation. It is the human capital that can think, create, envision, imagine and bring solutions to problems. When the human capital is neglected, the nation is doomed to a life of poverty,” he said.

Mr Nweke said the association would continue to advocate, promote, and enlighten the people on the importance of education and skills acquisition to help the youth become relevant in society.

In his presentation, Offornze Amucheazi, Anambra’s commissioner for Lands, lamented that the illegal activities of many youths in the communities scare investors away.

He urged the association to intensify its youth enlightenment campaign to curb the menace and promote Anambra’s development.

In his remarks, the ruler of Awkuzu, Charles Anikweze, urged the association not to relent in ensuring that education got to every household in the state.

He also urged the federal, state and local governments to support the association to secure the future of young Nigerians.

(NAN)