Chinedum Treasure
Catch Them Young Community Initiative (CATYCOI) has challenged Nigerian youths inspire to become solution providers, responsible citizens and active participants in shaping the future of the country.
Executive Director, Nonso Orakwe gave the advice in his message to commemorate 2026 International Youth Day themed, “Different Contexts, Common Aspirations.”
He acknowledged myriad of challenges facing the youths, including unemployment, limited economic opportunities, political exclusion, misinformation, insecurity, drug abuse, migration pressures and declining trust in public institutions.
He however said such challenges must not become reasons for them to withdraw from society.
He said, “Our generation must move beyond complaining to constructive engagement. We must participate in elections, demand accountability, promote peaceful coexistence, reject hate speech and misinformation, support community development and use technology responsibly.
“Young people must also recognize that leadership is not only about occupying political offices. Leadership begins in our communities, schools, workplaces, businesses, faith communities and families. Every young person has the capacity to create positive change.
“It is also important to acknowledge that the current government of Anambra State, led by Prof. Charles Chukwuma Soludo, is already taking deliberate steps to address some of these challenges facing young people.
“Through initiatives such as youth inclusion in political appointments and the “One Youth, Two Skills” programme, efforts are being made to equip young people with practical skills, create pathways to employment, and ensure greater participation of youth in governance and development processes.
Speaking on the theme, Orakwe said, “the theme reminds us that although young people may come from different backgrounds and face different realities, our aspirations remain largely the same: access to quality education, decent employment, meaningful participation in governance, good health, security, dignity and the opportunity to build a better future.
“For young people in Onitsha South 1 Constituency, this message is particularly important.
“Our constituency is blessed with intelligent, enterprising and innovative young people who continue to make remarkable contributions in business, technology, education, creative industries, public service, politics and community development.
“However, we must also acknowledge the challenges confronting our generation, unemployment, limited economic opportunities, political exclusion, misinformation, insecurity, drug abuse, migration pressures and declining trust in public institutions.
“I therefore call on governments, traditional institutions, private-sector leaders, civil society organizations and development partners to invest more deliberately in the young people of Onitsha South 1 Constituency and the Anambra State through skills development, entrepreneurship, digital innovation, quality education, access to finance, leadership development and meaningful opportunities for civic and political participation.
“To young people in Onitsha South 1 Constituency: our future cannot be built by someone else. We must take ownership of it. Let us equip ourselves with knowledge, develop our skills, build bridges across communities and political differences, and use our energy to create rather than destroy.
“Let us be the generation that transforms frustration into innovation, exclusion into participation, and challenges into opportunities.
“Today, as the world commemorates International Youth Day 2026, I celebrate the resilience, creativity, courage and enormous potential of young people in Onitsha South 1 Constituency and across the South-East of Nigeria.
“The Anambra State needs our ideas, South East needs our ideas. Nigeria needs our courage. Africa needs our leadership. May we continue to rise, lead, innovate and serve.”
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