By Patrick Ochei
The Special Assistant to the Delta State Governor on Youth Mobilisation, Mr Onyedikachi Michael Odogwu, has urged young people across the state to embrace peace-building, promote peaceful coexistence and take active responsibility for the development of their communities.
Odogwu made the call while delivering the keynote address at the unveiling of the Youth Empowerment Support Initiative organised by the Okehebunor Foundation as part of activities marking the 2026 Africa Youth Day celebration.
Speaking on the theme, *”Bridging Generations Through Youth Leadership and Empowerment for One Africa’s Shared Future,”* he described youths as critical drivers of societal transformation whose creativity, energy and leadership abilities must be effectively harnessed for sustainable development.
He challenged young Africans to abandon the perception that meaningful success could only be achieved outside the continent, urging them to recognise the opportunities within Africa and deploy their talents towards building prosperous communities and nations.
According to him, young people must move beyond passive participation in societal affairs and become active contributors to nation-building, conflict prevention and the promotion of lasting peace.
The event, held at the Olorogun Felix Ibru Secretariat in Asaba, also featured goodwill messages from representatives of the Delta State Commissioner for Water Resources, the Chairman of the Delta State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), and the Delta State House of Assembly.
In his remarks, the Chairman of the occasion and Vice President of the National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN), South-South Zone, Comrade Kenneth Okorie, maintained that young people possess the capacity to shape the nation’s future and should channel their energies towards constructive engagement rather than activities capable of frustrating national development.
He applauded the founder of the Okehebunor Foundation, Ambassador Aghaulor Samuel Okehebunor, for his commitment to youth empowerment, describing the initiative as a timely intervention that would encourage beneficiaries to translate their vocational skills into sustainable sources of livelihood.
A major highlight of the celebration was the empowerment of 20 beneficiaries, comprising graduates of the Delta State Vocational Training Board, with the foundation committing ₦1 million towards supporting their entrepreneurial aspirations and promoting self-reliance.
Speaking on the inspiration behind the intervention, Ambassador Okehebunor expressed gratitude to members of the foundation’s board and its sponsors for their contributions and encouragement, which he said had made the initiative possible.
He reaffirmed his commitment to giving back to society, noting that his passion for impacting lives, encouraging self-sufficiency and contributing to economic advancement informed the establishment of the empowerment initiative.
The foundation’s founder further stressed the need for sustained support systems that enable young people to move beyond acquiring vocational skills to establishing productive ventures, creating economic value and securing meaningful livelihoods.
Africa Youth Day, observed annually on November 1, provides an opportunity to celebrate the contributions of young people while drawing attention to their aspirations, challenges and indispensable role in Africa’s development.
The 2026 celebration by the Okehebunor Foundation underscored the importance of combining youth leadership, vocational empowerment and community engagement in building a peaceful, productive and prosperous society.
