Over the past decade, young people in Nigeria have been seeking to take charge of their destinies in asserting their place in policy making and leadership in all walks of life.


Though these efforts seem to have taken more of a lip service approach, recent engagements show a drastic change in their mode of engagement and a demonstration to match their words with actions.


This new drive was well displayed at the 2019 Anambra Youth Entrepreneurship Summit, AYELS 2019 held in Awka, as youths took the stage to change their narrative.


David Okpokwasili attended the Summit and highlights the top resolutions of the Summit.
AYELS 2019, the fourth in its series, is a brain child of Progressive Anambra Youths, PAY, a non-governmental organization whose mission is to “build and mobilize visionary young leaders towards effective participation in nation building, entrepreneurship, and community service, through effective mentorship and training.”


In line with the theme of the Summit “Raising Global Change Makers For National Leadership”, Speakers and panelists drawn from the political space, media and film, finance, academics, and leadership development sector underscored the importance of mentoring a leadership ready youths.


This, they say, will help them not only to fill the leadership gap but to drive the desired development needed for the country.


The Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Anambra Broadcasting Service, ABS, Chief Uche Nworah and the Former Member of the House of Representatives that represented Orumba North and South Federal Constituency, Dr Ben Nwankwo among other speakers emphasized on the need for virile leadership changes and change makers.


The panelists, a group of young people already in leadership positions including Hon Nonso-Smart Okafor of Anambra State House of Assembly, Billion Obi, a Film Producer of Nollywood fame, Chief Elijah Onyeagba, a Financial Industry Investor and Politician and many others also called for change makers that will influence change in their immediate environment.
Earlier in a welcome address, the President, Progressive Anambra Youths, PAY, Engineer Ifeanyichukwu Ike, called on youths to bring support vibrant young Leaders that can bring innovation to governance.


Since the inception of PAY ten years ago, their vision of “transforming the economic Leadership landscape of Anambra State by 2030 using visionary young leaders” has been the platform driving their engagements with young people.