Driven by his prodigious passion for human capital building and creating new ideas and initiatives that drive development in communities, a former People’s Democratic Party,PDP, Presidential Aspirant, Hon. Ugochukwu Williams has unveiled a pet project, Imo Development Champion, IDC, Competition.
The unveiling of the initiative which had in attendance notable stakeholders from Imo State, leaders of youth organizations and student unions, took place last week in Owerri.
In his address, founder of IDC Competition, Hon. Williams, averred that gone are the days when citizens sit back with folded arms, waiting for government to do everything for them, saying the time has come for all to be part of community development.
He explained that the project is a Community Development Competition which operates in the 27 Local Government Areas of Imo State with the objective of helping to inspire young people to dream big, initiate developmental projects in their communities and make a difference in their world.
Williams disclosed that the IDC competition application is for innovative Imo youths across the LGAs, aged 18 to 40, where two persons per LG would be selected to participate in a 2-day in house training, after which there will be screening for the best trainees in community service and development projects, such as road grading, borehole installation and school renovation, for the reward of half a million (₦500,000).
Williams who was the youngest PDP Presidential Aspirant in the 2023 elections noted that through the IDC Competition, intellectual and skillful potentials of youths would be well recognized, harnessed to foster the actualization of the 2030 Agenda for a Sustainable Development, adding that it is paramount to invest in youths and their ability in order to get the desired change.
In line with the project’s theme, “We Are Championing And Challenging Young People In Imo State To Drive Development In Their Immediate Communities”, the humanist said “the program and award attached would help young people to unlock their potentials and become Development Ambassadors of Imo state at least for one year.
We will be encouraging and grooming young people to learn to be involved in the development of their communities, learn new skills, get physically active, volunteer within their communities and discover a sense of adventure of outside the classroom”.
The business tycoon and CEO of various companies, observed that young people have been relegated to the background in governance, stating that youths have been placed as passive recipients of aid and policies for too long, rather than being active contributors to the development agenda.
The approach, he said, must change if social and economic progress of the 27 LGAs of the state could be fully achieved.
In his contribution, Nnaemeka Ikegwuonu, President/Founder Smallholders Foundation, commended Williams for his initiative, in bringing up such a superb project he added would both benefit the youth and the nation at large, advising them to venture into Agriculture to enhance food sufficiency.
The event also witnessed the presence of Dr. Ezekiel Abayomi Jimoh, Senior Pastor, Look and Live Salvation End Time Ministry, representative of Imo Commissioner of Police, CP Aboki Danjuma, Engr. Chidomere Ndubuisi, President, PALMTECH Group, Engr. Obinna Egbuka, President, Youth Enhancement Organization, who gave their different contributions to the success of the event.
