The chairman, Anambra Vision 2070 Committee, Professor Chukwuma Soludo says ensuring a sustainable environment is the only way any society could secure its future.
Professor Soludo, who was speaking at the first National Youths Summit on Environment Sector Development in Nigeria, said this was why the Committee gave priority to planning and protecting the environment in the fifty year plan for Anambra State.
Correspondent, David Okpokwasili reports that the summit was held in Awka.
The summit, organized by the office of the Deputy Chairman, House of Representative’s Committee on Environment and the Global Youths Awareness and Development Initiative, was targeted at ensuring youths involvement in environmental sustainability, protection and natural resources conservation.
Professor Soludo, a former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria said in the Igbo world view and values, environmental protection and sustainability played significant role on how trees were planted and major structures set up in the olden days but regretted that these values have been negated in recent times, which according to him, led to serious environmental hazards facing the Igbo region.
He therefore called on youths to lead the charge in protecting their environment as an endangered environment meant an endangered future.
Earlier, the convener of the summit and deputy chairman, House of Representative’s Committee on Environment, Chief Chinedu Obidigwe assured his continued support for any platform that ensures the empowerment of youths and underscored the centrality of youths in managing and mitigating the different environmental hazards facing the state, Nigeria and the World at large.
In his speech, the co-convener of the summit and President of Global Youths Awareness and Development Initiative, Prince Egbeni Ebei said there are numerous jobs and wealth creation opportunities in the environment sector for youths to become self-reliant.
The guest lecturer and a Professor of Environment at Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Professor Anthony Okoye called on government at all levels to increase training and empowerment programmes for youths to tap into the opportunities available in the sector.
The summit with the theme, “Environmental Sustainability and its impact on accelerated youth empowerment and sustainable national development in the post COVID-19 era”, drew attendees from different youth groups within the state.
Highpoint was the presentation of Environmental Sector Development Award to well-meaning individuals, who have contributed to environmental sustainability, protection and conservation.
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