Nigeria 2015: I’ll Focus On Youth Empowerment If Elected For Second Term, Jonathan Says

President Goodluck Jonathan says his second term in office will be to empower and encourage more youth to be great leaders through youth-oriented programmes.

Mr. Jonathan made the promise at the campaign of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, held at the Dan Anyiam Stadium in Owerri on Saturday.

He said his administration recognised the creative ability of the youth, especially in sports and the entertainment industry, which must be encouraged and appreciated.

“We recognise the creative attributes of our young people which must be appreciated through grants and other supports.

“The YouWIN and agricultural programmes of this administration are all geared towards making our talented youth young millionaires”, he said.

He said his administration also recognised the value of education in preparing the youth for the future hence had established 12 conventional and two specialised universities in the last six years.

“Our aim is to prepare the young people for their future roles as leaders in sports, education, and in the entertainment industry”, he said.

The President said his government would continue to carry Nigerian women along and ensure that they were projected to the outside world.

He promised to do this by boosting the office of the first lady and giving more support to women empowerment programmes.

“It is not enough to just give ministerial appointments; my administration is focused now on projecting Nigerian women to the international limelight”, he said.

Mr. Jonathan said through TETFund and Sure-P, his administration had initiated and completed major projects in Imo.

He called on Imo sons and daughters to vote massively for the PDP in all the political positions.

The National Chairman of the party, Adamu Mu’azu, stressed the commitment of the party to youth development.

Mr. Mu’azu noted that Mr. Jonathan’s administration was result-oriented and called on all Imo residents to support the party in the senatorial, representatives, gubernatorial and presidential elections.

The Director General of the Presidential Campaign Organisation, Ahmadu Ali, urged Imo residents to collect their Permanent Voter Cards and support the party in the upcoming elections.

Governor Theodore Orji of Abia who is the South East zonal campaign coordinator of the presidential campaign, commended Imo residents for coming out in their numbers to honour the president.

He urged them to vote massively for the party and for Mr. Jonathan who he said had interest of the Igbo’s at heart.

The Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives and PDP governorship candidate in Imo, Emeka Ihedioha, said the state had complete faith in the party and would continue to support it.

He promised to reinstate the displaced beneficiaries of the 10,000 jobs created by the former Governor of the state, Ikedi Ohakim, if elected.

Mr. Ihedioha held that a great number of the youths had been rendered jobless with the cancellation of the scheme.

He also promised to revive vocational schools in the state to encourage youth self-employment.

The gubernatorial candidate said his administration would give qualitative and free education in collaboration with the Universal Basic Education programme of the Federal Government.

Mr. Ihedioha also promised to improve the health sector in the state, promising free health care for pregnant women.

He thanked the president for dualisation of the Owerri/Aba Road and asked for its completion as soon as possible.

The National Woman Leader of the party, Kema Chikwe, called on Imo women to support the PDP as it had always recognised and appreciated the contributions of women to national development.

The highlight of the event was the presentation of the party’s flag to the gubernatorial candidate of the party, Mr. Ihedioha.

Also present at the rally were former Super Eagles stars, Kanu Nwankwo and Joseph Yobo, who added colour to the rally as well as other PDP political big wigs.

(NAN)