Precious Nwonu, Enugu
The Federal Character Commission has urged youths in Enugu State to take advantage of legitimate employment, education, entrepreneurship and skills-development opportunities available through government institutions and other platforms.
The call was made at the Peter Eze Youth Connect 2026, held at the International Conference Center, ICC, in Enugu State, organised by the Federal Commissioner representing Enugu State in the Federal Character Commission, Hon. Peter Ogbonna Eze.
Themed, “Beyond Quotas: Unlocking Opportunities for Enugu Youth Through the Federal Character Commission,” the programme was designed to bridge the information gap between young people and institutions responsible for providing employment, scholarships, grants, training and other opportunities.
Speaking at the event, Eze said many young Nigerians miss opportunities because of misinformation, limited access to information and the belief that government jobs are predetermined before they are advertised.
He said, “You can barely get an opportunity you do not apply for”, urging young people not to disqualify themselves through fear or assumptions that available opportunities had already been shared.
According to him, there are more than 700 Federal Government ministries, departments, agencies, commissions and other establishments offering employment and other opportunities across the country.
He explained that the Federal Character Commission has a constitutional and statutory responsibility to promote equitable representation across federal institutions.
Eze also warned youths against falling victim to fraudulent recruitment agents, stressing that legitimate government jobs should not be bought.
“Anyone asking you to pay for a legitimate government job is asking you to participate in an illegal act and should be reported through the appropriate channels,” he said.
The commissioner said the initiative was established to go beyond federal employment quotas by exposing young people to grants, scholarships, fellowships, training programmes, entrepreneurship opportunities and other legitimate pathways to personal and economic advancement.
He described true empowerment as equipping people with “knowledge, skills, information, access and opportunities” rather than merely providing short-term assistance.
The Executive Chairman of the Federal Character Commission, Hon. Hulayаt Motunrayo Omidiran, in her keynote address, said federal character should not be viewed merely as a system of numerical distribution.
She said its deeper purpose was to promote equity, inclusion, national cohesion and a sense of belonging among Nigerians.
Omidiran encouraged Enugu youths to acquire relevant knowledge, develop contemporary skills, embrace technology, build professional networks and actively pursue legitimate opportunities.
She also warned them to verify opportunities and remain vigilant against fraudulent recruitment schemes and deceptive offers.
“Equity and merit should never be regarded as contradictory principles,” she said, stressing that competence, discipline, integrity and excellence remained essential for advancement.
The Enugu State Government, represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Chidiebere Onyia, commended the organisers for creating a platform that connects young people with opportunities.
Onyia said the programme went beyond discussions about representation by creating practical pathways for youths to access scholarships, international networks, career guidance and entrepreneurial opportunities.
He urged participants to make effective use of networking opportunities, stressing that relationships could provide access to ideas, expert advice, career guidance and business opportunities.
The government representative also highlighted the importance of technology and artificial intelligence, urging young people to focus on acquiring skills that would enable them to compete beyond geographical boundaries.
The guest speaker, Senator Emmanuel Onwe, spoke on “Career Pathways, Mentorship and Scholarship Opportunities: Navigating the Road to Purpose and Professional Success.”
He advised young people seeking mentors to prepare themselves by developing their character, intelligence and knowledge before approaching accomplished professionals.
Onwe also announced scholarship opportunities in the United States for Nigerian youths, including undergraduate programmes in Computer Information Systems, Electronic Engineering Technology and another engineering technology programme.
Another guest speaker, Roland Oroh, Founder and Director of Agribusiness Register Limited and Manager of the European Union-Nigeria Agribusiness Platform, spoke on “From Learning to Earning: Finding, Accessing and Securing Real Job Opportunities.”
Oroh highlighted the importance of agriculture and shared insights on entrepreneurship, including his experience in the honey business.
The event culminated in the selection of five Enugu youths for opportunities to study abroad.
Three beneficiaries were selected for undergraduate programmes: Michael Uche from Enugu West Senatorial District, Okoro Chineye from Enugu North Senatorial District and Chukwuemeka Chiemere from Enugu East Senatorial District.
Two others, Ugwuaji Paul and Odo Emmanuel Nnamdi, both from Enugu North Senatorial District, were selected for postgraduate programmes.
Speaking in a brief interview with a PACESETTER reporter after the event, Eze was asked about plans to expand the initiative beyond the five beneficiaries and create more educational opportunities for young people in Enugu State.
He said the organisers could not compel beneficiaries who study abroad to return but would continue to provide opportunities and hope they would use them to make a positive impact.
“We can’t force them to come back. The only thing is to extend the opportunity to them. If they use it well, that’s our prayer. If they don’t, we don’t have control over that,” he said.
According to him, the initiative was aimed at adding value to the lives of beneficiaries while encouraging them to extend the impact to others.
“That’s why we say in the Youth Connect, if we connect you, you connect others. Be useful to other people,” Eze added.
He was also asked about measures to ensure that beneficiaries use the knowledge and skills acquired abroad to contribute to the development of Enugu State.
Eze said the programme was still at an early stage and that the organisers would assess its impact before expanding it, noting that the level of interest shown by young people had demonstrated the need for the organisers to review the programme, assess its impact and identify ways to improve it in subsequent editions.
“Now that we have seen our people are interested in adding knowledge, acquiring skills, and also having something to do, we are going to go back, look at what we have done, look at the impact and look on how to improve. So we must improve and do it better next time,” he said.
The organisers said Peter Eze Youth Connect was conceived to build an informed, confident and opportunity-ready generation of Enugu youths capable of competing, participating and contributing meaningfully to national development.
The initiative also encouraged beneficiaries to share opportunities with others and use their eventual success to create opportunities for more young people.
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