The Federal Government should complete the abandoned National Youth Development Centre, Mgbakwu, Akwa North Local Government Area of Anambra State.
Senator Uche Ekwunife, PhD (IYOM) made the call when she moved a motion on the floor of the Senate, last week.
The senator, representing Anambra Central Local Government Area, urged the government at the centre to expedite action on the completion of the project.
Senator Ekwunife said the government cannot and must not allow the centre to waste away, given its importance to youths in the Mgbakwu Community and its environs.
She also pointed out that 31 similar projects located in various parts of the country have been completed and, as such, the one in Anambra State must not be abandoned.
The senator, who is going for another term in the upper chamber, declared that the National Youth Centre, Mgbakwu should not be neglected in view of its importance to the socio-economic development of youths in the area.
Senator Ekwunife said in a statement: “Last week, I moved a motion on the floor of the Senate urging the federal government to complete the abandoned National Youth Development Centre, Mgbakwu in Awka North Local Government Area.
“Sitting on 60 acres of land magnanimously donated by Mgbakwu Community, the National Youth Development Centre, Mgbakwu is one project that we cannot afford to go to waste.”
Senator Ekwunife said the project, which was designed to provide opportunity for training of youths on various skill acquisition programs, was too significant to be left uncompleted.
“The investment of the Federal Government on the project, which is designed to provide opportunity for training of youths on various skill acquisition programmes, is already too significant to be left uncompleted,” she added.
Ekwunife also noted that the Federal Goverment would incur huge financial losses if it choose to abandon the National Youth Development Centre, Mgbakwu, given the infrastructure already in place in the facility.
“Addressing the Senate, I expressed that the government stands to incur huge financial losses on the infrastructure already put in place within the facility.
“[This is] bearing in mind that similar youth centres across various parts of the country, numbering about 31, have been completed and put to use, while this particular one in Anambra State is suffering from abandonment and neglect,” she said.
The motion by Senator Ekwunife had the support of his colleagues as the Senate urged the Federal Ministry of Youths and Sports Development to fast-track all processes necessary for the commencement of activities at centre.
This, the Senate admonished, should be in line with what obtains in similar centres in other parts of the country.
The upper legislative chamber also mandated the Senate Committee on Sports and Youth Development to investigate the circumstances leading to the abandonment of the National Youth Development Centre, Mgbakwu, Anambra State.
