SPEECH GIVEN BY THE NATIONAL PRESIDENT COMR. LEVI ZACHARIAH GEORGE, NATIONAL UNION OF RIVERS STATE STUDENTS (NURSS) NATIONAL SECRETARIAT, IN COMMEMORATION OF THIS YEAR’S INTERNATIONAL YOUTH DAY CELEBRATION 2021, 27TH AUGUST.

PROTOCOLS

Words are not enough to express how genuinely excited we are to have favourite people in the world here with us as we start this special commemorative event of the international youth Day.

Thank you very much for joining us and being such an important part of this program. We will cherish the memories that will emanate from this day for the rest of our lives and we are extremely happy to have you in them.

International Youth Day is celebrated annually on 12 August to bring youth issues to the attention of the international community and celebrate the potentials of youth as partners in today’s global society.

The Day gives an opportunity to celebrate and mainstream young peoples’ voices, actions and initiatives, as well as their meaningful, universal and equitable engagement. It was established by the UN General Assembly, which on 17 December 1999, endorsed the recommendation made by the World Conference of Ministers Responsible for Youths, calling for 12th August to be declared International Youth Day which has been celebrated by the state Government through the Ministry of Youths Development but the Leadership of NURSS deemed it necessary to bring such an event to the students community, knowing that students are the must populated youths in the world.

The 2021 theme for International Youth Day (IYD) is: Transforming Food Systems: Youth Innovation for Human and Planetary Health, calling attention to the need for development of more equitable and resilient food systems, to restore the planet and protect life, while integrating biodiversity in the transformation of food systems.

Some considerations related to this year’s theme:
• The connection between food systems and young people with indigenous roots and ancestors. Indigenous people have valuable expertise in sustainable processes and the use of local resources.

The use of local resources boosts local trade and employment, which is critical in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic and recovery.
Farming offers the young generation a chance to make a difference by growing enough food to feed the world.

Those who become farmers now have the opportunity to be the generation that end world hunger and alleviate malnutrition, as well as helping the sector adapt to climate change.

In order to improve youth involvement in agricultural production and processing in Nigeria, attention should be given to the factors leading to youth migration to urban areas. In addition, the economic constraints facing youth in agriculture (lack of credit, weak profitability, capacity constraint, etc) should be examined.

Youth should be trained on modern ways of agriculture and agri-business immediately after high school, after the training, those who choose to start an enterprise should be funded and encouraged while those who choose to work should be placed in farms of those who choose to create enterprises, that way their knowledge is used to build their businesses and that way it becomes sustainable and money realized from the business will be used to further their education in any course of study they choose.

In addition, youths who are currently into agriculture should be encouraged and honoured so that others will take interest in agriculture. We can only reduce youth unemployment in Nigeria through sustainable agriculture, if we want do things right. We can never expect the same results, when we do the same things!

Organizations and governments name buildings after people, living or dead, to commemorate their lives or generosity, though government buildings most often bear the names of deceased notables but today we will name this beautiful edifice after Living Legends, former National Presidents of our dear NATIONAL UNION OF RIVERS STATE STUDENTS (NURSS) WORLDWIDE .

I hereby, on behalf of Rivers State Students and the Mandate given to me as the NAT'L President National Union of Rivers State Students - NURSS World-wide Media name this Building after Hon. Dax George-Kelly NURSS NATIONAL SECRETARIAT (ALUTA BUILDING), Prof. Isaac Zeb-obipi MULTI PURPOSE Hall, PST. Amakuro Amakiri CAFETERIA and Comr. Barr. Patrick Ogbuehi ICT CENTRE.

This is following their developmental Strides in the Students Community.

I once again welcome you to this year’s students/youth Day celebration, 2021.

God bless Nigeria,
God bless Rivers State
God bless Rivers State Students,
Aluta Continua, Victoria Acerta

Comr. Levi Zachariah George
NURSS NAT'L President worldwide