The Rivers Government on Friday urged youths to take advantage of the huge investments made by the administration of Gov. Nyesom Wike in education to improve themselves academically.

The state Deputy Governor, Dr Ipalibo Banigo, made the call in Port Harcourt at a one-day sensitisation programme with the theme: “Wind of Change envisioned by the essay competition winner of the second phase of the “OurStateOurResponsibility advocacy campaign”, organised by the State Ministry of Information and Communications.

Banigo, represented by Mrs Uchechukwu Oriri, the Permanent Secretary, State Ministry of Women Affairs, reiterated that the Wike-led administration has reintroduced boarding system in selected secondary schools across the three senatorial districts of the State while new courses such as medicine and others have been instituted in the state university.

“Campuses of the Rivers State University are in Emohua, Etche and Ahoada. I urge our youths to take advantage of these educational facilities and improve themselves academically,” she said.

The Deputy Governor described the theme “Our State Our Responsibility Advocacy campaign Initiative of the state Ministry of Information and Communications”, as a positive contribution to the development of Rivers youths.

She noted that the advocacy campaign has made tremendous impact in changing the negative perception of outsiders about Rivers State.

Banigo called on other ministries, departments and the public sector to emulate the Ministry of Information and Communications to chat a future for youths of the State.

She expressed delight that the event was initiated by an 18-year-old girl who distinguished herself among her peers to emerge winner of the essay competition.

Banigo said the event was an encouragement to the girl-child and to her pet project “Protect the Girl-Child Initiative”, which has mentored some girls in secondary schools to gain admission into tertiary institutions out of which 51 students in tertiary institutions were offered scholarships across gender.

In his speech, Mr Paulinus Nsirim, the State Commissioner for Information and Communications, emphasised that Gov. Wike has made Rivers State a model for development in Nigeria through his visionary leadership.

Nsirim urged people living and doing business in Rivers State to continue to promote the advocacy campaign to change every negative narrative about the state.

The commissioner stated that Wike’s dream is to restructure the state to a phase where youths would grow with the assurance that their future is secured.

He urged the youths to shun negative tendencies and cultivate the virtues of honesty, hardwork and integrity as the hallmark of greatness in society.

“Part of what we want to achieve is to draw attention to those values that make a nation. Values of honesty, hard work and integrity,” he said.

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In her keynote speech, Miss Sophia Oyibo, the convener of the sensitisation programme and ambassador of the State Ministry of Information and Communications, urged Rivers youths to utilise their talents maximally for the promotion and development of the state.

“Think what you can do for Rivers State, be productive, contribute, be innovative, the Government can not do it alone,” Oyibo said.

She said maximising one’s talent involved productivity, innovation and personal love and discipline. “These elements are the ingredients to success,” she said. (NAN)