By Magnus Emuji
OKPANAM/Nigeria: A frontline aspirant for the position of Okpanam Youths President, Comrade Lucky Okolo has underscored the importance sports competitions and youths empowerment as critical factors for tackling crimes among youths in any given society.
Comrade Okolo stated this at St. Molumba’s College, Okpanam in Oshimili North Local Government Area during the kick off ceremony of the maiden edition of Okpanam 5-Aside Female Football Competition that he sponsored.
He said that the initiative was aimed at unifying women in the community, adding that there was no disparity between male and female folks just as he stated that Okpanam 5-Aside Football Competition was also designed to create awareness that ladies needed to be encouraged and offered platform towards enhancing their success in the society.
While commending the traditional ruler of Okpanam kingdom, HRM Ugoani of Okpanam, Dr. Michael Mbanefo Ogbolu, the Omu Anioma, HRM Dr. Martha Dunkwu and other well-meaning individuals in the community for their inspiring efforts towards the growth and development of the community, Comrade Okolo said that he was in the race for Okpanam youths President to bring innovations that would affect the youths and community positively.
Earlier, the chairman of Amachai Youths, Comrade Emmanuel Agala, Prince Emmanuel Okafor from Anambra State and a former councillor in the area and now APC chairman in the area, Hon. Chucks Okeleke who noted that the initiative was worthy of emulation, said that the gesture was one of the best ways of reinvigorating love and unity among the people.
Comrade Agala specifically lauded the sponsor of the football competition, Comrade Lucky Okolo for his modest contributions to the upliftment of the humanity, saying that the aspiring okpanam youths President had continued to display uncommon ability and readiness to transform the community.
In his remarks, the chairman of the occasion, HRM Dr. Michael Mbanefo Ogbolu who is the Ugoani of Okpanam kingdom, represented by his personal assistant, Dr. Ngozi Nwabuoku stressed the need for youths to always harness the talents for the benefits of themselves and the society at large.
He described sporting activities as a veritable instrument for building both mental and physical fitness as well as a tool that could be used to reduce criminality among youths, noting that sports was now a profitable business.
