By Douglas Blessing, Port Harcourt
To reduce the rate of insecurity challenging the peace of the country, a Non-Denominational Christian body in Nigeria, Student Christian Movement (SCM), has urged the Federal and State government on the need to focus on the development of the youths.
The student group also called on the government to make policies that will give employment to the youth as soon as they are done with their education.
The National President of SCM, Mrs Ebere Ubesie, made the call during the group’s 19th Bianial Conference held in Port Harcourt.
Ubesie stated that the group is a youth outreach in Nigeria that prepares students for societal transformation for over 81 years in the country.
She stated that any nation that does not bother to develop their youths are not bothered about their future.
“We are using this medium to raise our voices and condemn what has been happening to our constituency which are our youths, the fact is that a nation cannot grow without responsible youths.
“This is why we are crying out to government at all levels to prepare for our youths good policies and legacy to inherit, than witnessing violence, killing, abduction of students in their schools, unemployment among others.
“We are calling on government to build industries and also create enabling environment for foreign investors to invest in our country so that our youths will be employed.
“We are also advocating for control and a great reduction of violence in our country:SCM is constantly training youths to ensure that they will be better leaders, we also employ them in jobs because some of us are employer of labour,” Mrs Ubesie urged.
Ubesie advised youths not to engage in any violence of any kind; election thuggery, cultism, robbery, rape, drug peddling, kidnapping, rituals among others.
She stated that the group is currently creating an opening with the Christian Council of Nigeria(CCN)to propose on voters education where youths would be educated not to get involved in election violence rather get their Permanent Voters Card(PVC)to vote good leaders that will lead the country.
In his speech, Mr. Samuel Ogan, former President of the group said that the body had played an active role in the campaign against insecurity, cultism and other social vices in the society which had also won many youths back as better citizens.
Ogan also, called on government and other relevant agencies to support the campaign against insecurity, terrorism against humanity in the country.
He urged the youths to desist from criminal activities and hopeless adventures that could destabilize the country.
Similarly, the Newly Elected President of the Group in Rivers, Mr Wisdom Owen, assured that the body in Rivers will continue to produce responsible youths that will contribute to the development of the country.
