The National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN), Ebonyi State Chapter, has called for stronger youth empowerment, peaceful participation in the 2027 general elections and collective efforts to raise responsible boys who promote safer communities and prevent gender-based violence.
The Chairman of the council in the state, Mr Douglas Ochishi, made the call on Thursday in Abakaliki while declaring open the 2026 International Youth Week Celebration at the Pa Oruta Ngele Township Stadium.
Speaking on the theme, “Youth Empowerment for Sustainable Future,” Ochishi described young people as Nigeria’s greatest asset, saying that no nation develops beyond the quality of opportunities it provides for its youths.
He said that empowering young people through education, entrepreneurship, digital innovation, agriculture and skills acquisition would reduce unemployment, poverty and insecurity while driving sustainable national development.
Ochishi commended Gov. Francis Nwifuru of Ebonyi for prioritising youth development through education, entrepreneurship, agriculture, sports, infrastructure and empowerment programmes under the People’s Charter of Needs Agenda.
“The council appreciates these laudable interventions and encourages His Excellency not to relent until every willing young person in Ebonyi has access to opportunities capable of transforming dreams into reality,” he said.
The youth leader urged youths to shun electoral violence ahead of the 2027 general elections and avoid all forms of criminality.
“Political offices are temporary; human lives are priceless. No political ambition is worth the blood of any Nigerian youth,” he said.
He encouraged young people to obtain their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs), participate actively in civic education and vote based on conscience, competence, credibility, character and capacity.
Ochishi also appealed to the Federal Government to deepen youth-focused economic reforms by expanding employment opportunities, business financing, technology incubation centres and vocational education.
According to him, accelerated implementation of youth empowerment initiatives, including the Youth Economic Intervention and De-Radicalisation Empowerment Programme (YEIDEP), would help reduce unemployment, insecurity and criminality.
While acknowledging ongoing infrastructure projects by the Federal Government, he urged it to strengthen measures to cushion the effects of economic reforms on ordinary Nigerians.
On security, Ochishi reaffirmed the council’s readiness to partner with government and other stakeholders in promoting peace, intelligence gathering, conflict prevention and national unity.
He urged youths to reject drug abuse, cultism, internet fraud, violence and extremism, stressing that true success was built on discipline, excellence, hard work, perseverance and character.
Also speaking, the Special Assistant to the Governor on Gender-Based Violence, Ms Mary-Ann Nkwegu, called on parents, schools, faith-based organisations and communities to deliberately raise boys who respect women and reject violence.
Delivering a lecture entitled, “Raise Boys You Don’t Have to Bail: Building a Generation That Protects Rather Than Perpetrates,” Nkwegu said protecting girls must begin with raising responsible boys.
She noted that while parents often worried about the safety of their daughters, equal attention should be given to the values and character of sons.
“Every girl we are trying to protect will one day meet somebody’s son,” she said.
According to her, violence is not innate but learned through attitudes, behaviours and socialisation, adding that respect, empathy and accountability could also be deliberately taught.
She urged parents to instil honesty, self-control and compassion in their sons, while discouraging the notion that aggressive behaviour should be excused simply because a child is male.
“Fathers should remember that their sons are watching them, while mothers should correct bad behaviour with love instead of dismissing it because ‘he is a boy’,” she said.
Nkwegu said her engagement with survivors of gender-based violence had reinforced her belief that prevention remained more effective than response.
She observed that although laws such as the Violence Against Persons Prohibition (VAPP) Law were essential for justice, efforts to prevent abuse must begin in homes, schools, churches, mosques and communities before cases reached the courts.
She urged young men to embrace responsibility, integrity and self-control as hallmarks of true masculinity, while encouraging young women never to normalise disrespect or abuse.
According to her, government alone cannot eliminate gender-based violence without the active participation of parents, teachers, youth leaders, religious leaders and community stakeholders.
“If we truly want safer communities, stronger families and better protection for our daughters, then we must raise better boys.
“Every responsible husband was once somebody’s son, and every honourable father was once somebody’s little boy.
Let us commit ourselves to raising boys we never have to bail – boys who become men of integrity, compassion and responsibility,” she said.
Ochishi also appreciated development partners, particularly Nkwegu Medicals Specialist Hospital, for supporting the celebration through free medical screening and treatment for residents.
The week-long celebration, scheduled for Aug. 6 to Aug. 12, features campaigns against anti-social vices, a good governance road walk, project tours, leadership lectures and civic engagement activities. ENDS//
