Our Reporter

A member of the House of Representatives, Rep. Sam Onuigbo, says empowering youths with sustainable enterprises to seriously engage them is a better option than a one off cash grant.

Onuigbo, who represents Ikwuano/Umuahia North/South Federal Constituency of Abia State, on Saturday in Lagos spoke against the backdrop of youth empowerment and security challenges in the country.

He said such initiative, which he adopted in his constituency through giving youth birds and other supporting incentives; if expanded at national level would keep the youths engaged, reward them and check insecurity.

The lawmaker, who doubled as the Vice President, Africa Globe International, an organisation advocating for a good environment, frowned at the existing lack of employment for the teeming Nigerian youths.

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He said such a situation could cause youth restiveness and make them veritable tools to crime.

According to him, the best option to end security challenges is to engage youths with something to look-up to for a reward over a period of time and not one off cash grants as being carried out.

“We need to work on their perception of life and blur the attitude of now and just now and quick money orientation in them,” he said.

Onuigbo, who engaged youths in his constituency with birds that were about to begin laying eggs, bird feeds and other supporting incentives to advance the agribusiness, advised that such concept could be used in other sectors.

He added that when such initiatives were used in other sectors of the nation’s economy, it would advance the course of the youths.