In commemoration of International Youth Day 2023, Junior Chamber International (JCI) Nigeria has emphasised the need to equip youths with knowledge and abilities to address pressing environmental challenges.
 
It also stressed the need to hone skills that not only align with the needs of the present but also pave the way for a sustainable future.
  
The organisation stated this at this year’s JCI Ten Outstanding Young Persons (TOYP) award and International Youth Day (IYD) celebration, tagged: “Green Skills for Youth: Towards a Sustainable World,” held in Lagos.
 
JCI Nigeria President, Abdullahi Attairu, said by fostering skills that are attuned to green technologies, renewable energy, conservation, and sustainable practices, a generation of leaders who are poised to drive positive change are being shaped.
  
According to him, the IYD theme resonates deeply with the organisation’s commitment to shaping a future where the vitality of the planet is safeguarded through the empowerment of the youth.
  
Attairu said the process of selecting the TOYP recipients was a formidable challenge, as the pool of talent and dedication displayed by the young participants was exceptional.
 He said that the diverse categories, which range from scientific and/or technological development, political, legal, and/or government affairs, academic, and others, reflect the multifaceted nature of the challenges faced in today’s world.
 
He said: “As we come together to celebrate the remarkable achievements of our recipients, we are reminded of the indomitable spirit that resides within the heart of every young person. JCI provides a platform that nurtures this spirit, enabling young individuals to harness their potential and contribute meaningfully to society.
  
“I urge all of us to harness the potential within us to become catalysts of change. Let us draw inspiration from the successes of our past, as we journey towards a future where the skills we cultivate today will shape a world of enduring prosperity and environmental harmony,” he said.
  
The Chairman, 2023 TOYP/ IYD, Ayodeji Akinwande stated that the path to a sustainable world requires continuous effort, commitment, and collective action of all.
 “As we gather here today, let us remember that change starts within us. We must channel our energy and enthusiasm towards actions that contribute to a better world. Our remarkable honorees for the Ten Outstanding Young Persons of Nigeria Awards serve as beacons of hope, illuminating paths that inspire us to go above and beyond. Let their stories remind us that no goal is unattainable and no dream is too big.”
  
The TOYP awards and awardees include: The Academic Leadership and/or Accomplishment Category won by Alamu Azeez; the winner of the Business, Economic and/or Entrepreneurial Accomplishment Category, was Ayo-Bankole Akintujoye among others.