The South East Initiative For Good Governance, a youth group, has called on the Federal Government to engage youths in democratic process for the development of the country.

Mr Kingsley Okoronkwo, President of the organisation made the call on Monday after a Youth Day and new yam festival celebration in Abuja.

Okoronkwo said the government should engage youths in such a way that it would make them achieve and have the desire to help tackle national and global challenges.

“Nigerian youths are brilliant in all aspect of life, they are resourceful, genuinely skillful and can handle any task given to them.

“But the political leaders are thinking otherwise, they see youths as mere objects of voting instruments for political thugs and errand boys.

“In this same Nigeria, we have seen youth become Kings, Ezes, Emirs but it is different in the Nigerian politics,” he said.

According to him, youth engagement in governance is a necessary ingredient for transformation, integration, economic, social and environmental development.

He said that young people were good communicators, therefore, the government should provide substantive engagement for youths to ensure sustainable development in the country.

“The same constitution that was crafted to stop the young people from aspiring for leadership should also be used for the eligibility to vote politicians.

“The youths want to make their marks; they want to make names that will last for a lifetime through serious development and transformation of the country,” he said.

Okoronkwo explained that the success of the country depends on the full participation and engagement of youths in the planning, implementation and monitoring of policies.

He, however, called on the youth to fulfill their roles as agents of unity, positive change and sustainable development.

According to reports the festival organised by the Igwebuike Igbo Youth Association of Nigeria, FCT Chapter, featured presentation of awards of excellence to Comr. Chukwudubem Nnebedum, the president of Igwebuike association.

Other awardees are HRH Tobias Ochigbo as patron of the festival and as Ikemba Ndi-Igbo Youth Nigeria and Mr Okoronkwo as the Eze Umuokorobia Ndi-Igbo (Nigeria and Diaspora).

Also, Mr Dogo Williams, was awarded the “ Ogorbuchonye Na Uzu-Ije”, the Special Adviser on transport to the Chairman of Abuja Municipal Area Council.