The Chairman House of Representatives Committee on Correctional Service, Hon. Anayo Edwin Nwonu has expressed readiness to facilitate youth empowerment exchange programme for Nigerian youths with their counterparts in Europe and the Americas.
The federal lawmaker representing Ezza North/Ishielu Federal Constituency of Ebonyi State in the Green Chamber of the National Assembly made the promise when hosted delegates of Global Youth Leadership Network from Mexico and United States of America in Abuja on Thursday.
The delegates were in Abuja to launch Youth Mentorship Programme for Nigerian students.
The programme is expected to create platform for students in Senior Secondary schools in Nigeria for purposes of exchange programmes, scholarship and mentorship in different areas of life.
The Global Youth Leadership Network is a global platform present in over 42 countries.
The Network provides skill development programmes for young People across the world to enhance their technical and leadership skills for the benefit of their countries. In Nigeria, the Global Youth Leadership Network is in partnership with an Abuja based non-governmental organisation (NGO), the Centre for Media and Dialogue Initiative (CMDI).
CMDI is an organisation that works with both local and international organisations to mentor Nigerian youngsters in various technical, leadership and peace building initiatives.
Speaking to the Delegates, Hon. Edwin Nwonu welcomed them to Nigeria and expressed delight over the decision of the young people to interface with fellow youths in Nigeria on educational programmes.
He promised to partner with them to reach out to young people of his constituency in Ebonyi state.
He emphasized the importance of education and the need to get many youths out of the streets in the face of the current security situation in our country.
Earlier in his presentation, the leader of the delegation Valentino Camano from Mexico informed the Nigerian lawmaker that his organisation was prepared to engage as many youths in Nigeria as possible in areas of education, skill acquisition among others. As a United Nations Ambassador on Youth Development, he promised to carry the message of youth empowerment for Nigerian youths to the United Nations for more attention and support.
In his own presentation, Mr. Victor Okorie, the representive of the Global Youth Leadership Network in Africa with Headquarters in the Gambia, informed Hon Nwonu that the Leadership Network has trained over 100 youths in Gambia and was ready to extend the opportunity to young Nigerians.
The Nigerian Representative of CMDI, Dr Jerry Uhuo expressed the readiness of CMDI to work with the Leadership Network to create more awareness for Nigerian youths to benefits from the programme.
The official launch of the mentorship program is scheduled to hold on Saturday 4th December, 2021 at the Garki Secondary School, Abuja.
Other members of the delegation were Michelle Marcias, Andrea Gassier, Victor Fernandez, and Madam Chioma Osuagwu.
