The APC House of Representatives candidate for the Idemili North/South Federal Constituency, Kingsley Ezekwelu, in an interview with journalists at the rally. Photo: Ikenna Obianeri.
The All Progressives Congress House of Representatives candidate for the Idemili North/Idemili South Federal Constituency in the 2027 general elections, Kingsley Ezekwelu, has pledged to organise a six-month workshop to reorient, transform and empower youths through legitimate means.
Ezekwelu said the emergence of the quick-money syndrome had led many youths to abandon the core values, norms and work ethic that guided society, adding that the proposed workshop would help refocus them on productive pursuits.
He stated this while addressing constituents at a thank-you rally held at Udoh Nkolafia Field in Awka-Ettiti, Idemili South Local Government Area of Anambra State, on Sunday.
He blamed the growing moral decadence among youths on the quest for material wealth, stressing that a change of mindset was necessary before empowerment initiatives could be effective.
He said, “The youth workshop is the passion I have for reorienting, redeveloping, and refocusing our youth towards the main issues, towards the main theme of rebuilding their lives and anchoring it on hard work, merit, perseverance, and loyalty through proper tutelage.
“Our youth now, because of the emergence of quick money syndrome, have left the core values, the norms that guide our society, which is predicated on hard work. Before you empower a youth, first change his mindset so that he resolves within himself that he wants to succeed and wants to do better.
“If we don’t recreate a change of mindset among the youth by re-orienting, teaching, nurturing and counselling them, whatever support we may give then, they will take it as a parting gift which they can squander at any time.
“But if the youth are re-oriented with a change of mindset and resolve within themselves to succeed through legitimate means, then whatever support we give them, they will take it as human capital.
“With that support and change of mindset, we can empower them with skills acquisition and financial support to start up; from there, they can be able to build, expand and develop themselves and be able to take care of others, and society will be better for it.
“Our people want quick means to make wealth, which has deteriorated the standards of the society. I believe with this vision I have, God Almighty will help me because when you build the youth, you build the nation and you build a very vibrant and prosperous and progressive society.
“By the grace of God, with support of our parents and every stakeholder in the society, we shall achieve this within six months before we start empowerment programmes that will ensure sustainability.”
Ezekwelu appealed to constituents to elect him to the House of Representatives, saying he would provide quality representation and attract the dividends of democracy to the constituency.
Earlier, a prominent leader in Awka-Ettiti, Ebuka Okeke, popularly known as Alhaji Saint, outlined reasons the community should support and vote for APC candidates in the 2027 general elections.
Okeke said the community needed an APC-led government to address the deteriorating condition of roads across the town and facilitate federal civil service employment opportunities for its large population of unemployed graduates.
He pledged to deploy his political connections and strategies to secure victory for Ezekwelu.
He said, “Awka-Ettiti is good, peaceful and well secured, but we need roads to grow and develop more. Our roads are in dilapidated condition, which is why we are campaigning heavily for APC because we just need to fix the bad roads in the town.
“We need a representative at the National Assembly who is close to us like Kingsley Ezekwelu; he is someone we can talk to freely about our roads and other things we need in this great community.
“The current Lawmakers representing us at the State Assembly and National Assembly are nothing to write home about, which is why we are urgently in need of APC to change the ugly narrative in our peaceful community.
“Awka-Ettiti people need that bond and cordial relationship with APC to connect to the top.”
The thank-you rally was attended by the Anambra State APC Zonal Vice Chairman (Central), Chief Mommife Azubuike; the Idemili South APC Chairman, Sunday Obidigbo; and other party stalwarts, including Tony Ezekwelu and Chief Okelo Madukaife.