Chibuikem Diala, a tourism expert, has advised the Nigerian youths on the need to enhance their knowledge of financial literacy and innovation for national development.
Diala, founder and executive director of the International Hospitality Tourism and Eco-Sustainability Forum (IHTEF), said this at the 5th edition of the Mbano Youth Summit, in Owerri, weekend.
On the theme ‘The 21st Century Mbano Youth, A Reflective Action Plan,’ Diala said that a good knowledge of financial literacy was necessary to make the best use of natural resources and convert same to renewable income sources.
“You cannot grow a city, state or nation without understanding financial literacy because the exploration of our raw materials is dependent upon our knowledge of innovation and financial literacy, else poverty might continue to ravage communities.
“The young people we are bringing up today will be the leaders of tomorrow, hence, the need to shape them right and keep them at par with innovative means of income generation and financial growth,“ Diala said.
He described Imo as a blessed state with a generation of active, proactive people with youths topping the population. And urged the Nigerian youth to take advantage of modern technology to become self-employed rather than relying solely on government.
He thanked Magnus Agbakwo, convener of the summit, for consistently supporting youth development through the summit initiative, and called on other Nigerians to emulate him.
Speaking, Agbakwo said that he remained committed to the growth of youths through shared ideas presented at the summit despite meager resources.
He thanked all supporters of the summit for their contributions towards its success. And urged all well meaning Nigerians to rally support for the summit’s next edition in the interest of the nation’s future leaders.
The summit was also attended by Uchenna Ewellike, executive secretary of the Imo State Health Insurance Authority, and Stella Lemchi, vice chancellor of the Alvan Ikoku Federal University of Education, a professor, among others.
