By Andy Emephia.
As the global community commemorates the 2024 version of the International Peace Day, a global non-governmental organization (NGO), Mercy Help Foundation, has concluded plans to empower over 150 youths drawn from tertiary institutions and artisan groups.
The groundswell of affirmation, guest speakers enthused, stemmed from the prism of declining economic fortunes attributable to white-collar jobs.
At the UN 2024 Peace Day, which dovetailed its theme around sustainable peace and development and the way forward for youths, experts bemoaned the dearth of certification to earn a living.
They were strident and unanimous that the best approach to sustainability among youths is self-actualization and tapping into one’s potential.
The 2024 version of the International Peace Day celebration in Asaba, the Delta State Capital, had as its objective the issue of self-actualization.
With the theme, “Youths as agents of change, the resource persons, a Director of Entrepreneurship, Federal College of Education, Technical, alongside the National Coordinator, of the foundation, Peter Isioma and Mrs Betty Lfekwune, harped on the need for youths in the country to think outside the box to become self-reliant given the declining fortunes of landing white collar jobs.
They appealed to the youths, drawn from the Federal College of Education, ( Technical), Asaba, Dennis Osadebay University, Anwai Asaba, Delta State University, Abraka, as well as the informal sector, to do a mind search to discover areas of comparative advantage per their talents
The participants who were full of gratitude to the United Nations for deeming it fit to remember them, particularly thanked Mercy Help Foundation for being a catalyst to their economic fortunes.
They also paid glowing tributes to a main benefactor of the foundation, Madamme Nkem Brenda, for her pioneering roles in sustaining their interest towards self-actualization.
The high point of the International Day of Peace celebration in Asaba was a business session where participants discussed the problems, solutions, and value addition to their various businesses which ranged from tomato and vegetable farming, kerosene retail sale and liquid soap production, POS outlet expansion, graphic design/ affiliate marketing, foodstuff sales on campus, fashion and hairdressing options, among others.
