Deputy chief whip of the House Representatives (Isiukwuato/Umonneochi federal constituency) Hon. Nkeiruka Onyejeocha has charged Abia youths to take advantage of their technical skills and talents to leverage on the number of opportunities available in the Ministry of Science and Technology.
Onyejeocha made the call yesterday when she received youths from Obinolu, Ngodo who paid her a solidarity visit to appreciate her for working for siting the Federal Polytechnic Umunneochi in their community.
The youths who were led by their president, Uchenna Obieze, after thanking the lawmaker, used the opportunity to showcase a power bike built by a 26-year-old, Chukwu Chidera Victor, one of the youths of the community, appealing on his behalf to help him develop his talent.
Onyejeocha thanked them for the recognition and appealed to them to support Ikechi Emenike, the APC governorship candidate in Abia State, for ensuring that the polytechnic was located in Isuikwuato /Umunneochi federal constituency.
She expressed excitement that such innovation was built by a member of her constituency, saying it was time the youths began to look beyond other sectors of the economy as “technology is becoming a major driver in our day to life.”
She said for a country like Nigeria with over 200 million people to reach its full potentials, it must, like China, leverage on the power of technology to empower its growing number of youth who account for majority of its population.
According to the lawmaker, “this is what Dr Ogbonnaya Onu, the Minister of Science and Technology was saying recently. This is what we are talking about. I am really impressed with your this talent.
“It was because of people like you that he has called on youths to take advantage of various platforms provided by his ministry to create innovative products and provide services.
“The minister has assured the youths that his ministry is ready to support any innovation that will help grow the economy to solve national problems rather than seeking solution outside.’’
“So, I will introduce you to the Minister of State, Science and Technology, Chief Henry Ikechukwu Iko, who accidentally is from this state, so that we can see how to take your issue up from there”, Onyejeocha assured the innovator.
