Governor Udom Emmanuel of Akwa Ibom State has charged youth of the state to refrain from social vices, strive to own government and protect its infrastructure for progress and posterity.
The State Governor gave the charge on Sunday while addressing a cross section of youths during the August 2019 Edition of the Akwa Ibom Youth Prayer Conference (48th Edition) at Christ Apostolic Church, Aka Offot Assembly, Uyo.
Represented by his Commissioner for Special Duties, Rt. Hon. Okpolupm Etteh, the Governor, who said the theme of the event, “A New Beginning,” was apt, thanked the youth for their support and for standing by him during the 2019 General Elections, saying his victory and that of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) were testaments to the fact.
He commended organizers of the Youth Prayer Conference and urged the youth to take advantage of the ample opportunities in the state including the aviation sector which is currently recruiting members of the public into the industry.
While calling for unity amongst the youth, Governor Emmanuel also thanked his Senior Special Assistant on Youth Matters, Comrade Aniefiok Iwaudofia, for the feat so far achieved and challenged him to take up the responsibility of duplicating same feat at the Local Government, Ward and Unit levels.
The State Governor reassured the youth of his administration’s commitment to human capacity development but expressed worries over the spate of drug abuse among the youth, saying its effect would retard development and progress of Akwa Ibom.
In his remarks, Comrade Iwaudofia thanked the Governor for giving him yet another opportunity to lead Akwa Ibom youth to God through the prayer conference.
He assured the Governor of the youth’s resolve and commitment to the success of his administration.
The Governor’s Senior Special Assistant also inaugurated a 7-man prayer committee, headed by Pastor Christopher Jerry, to manage and coordinate the prayer conference.
The General Superintendent of the Assembly, Pastor Sunday Udoh, in his welcome address, commended the state governor for his infrastructural strides, which according to him, has placed the church in the limelight.
He also lauded the Governor for hinging his second term campaign on the OnlyGod slogan and for appointing one of the Church members as his Special Assistant.
In his homily, the Associate Pastor, Lazarus Ekanem, who tied his sermon to Isaiah 43: 18-19, charged the congregation to operate within the will of God for the envisaged new beginning to become a reality.
He said development and progress of Akwa Ibom would thrive when the youth bear positive fruits and speak the right words, stressing that “the power to make and destroy lies in the tongue. You must exude character that benefits others. You must showcase positive fruit of the tongue, hand and womb.”
Highpoint of the event was a special prayer season for Governor Udom Emmanuel and the government of Akwa Ibom state.
