AS part of efforts to deepen talent hunting and open employment vista for the teeming youths, PZ Cusson Foundation has donated a centre to Onikan Community of Lagos State, where the target population could hone their skills and by extension, engage themselves meaningfully.
Speaking at the commissioning, a Trustee of the foundation, Christos Giannopoulos said that, “to tackle unemployment in the state, there is need to encourage talents among youths and how to make good impacts on the community with their skills rather than waiting for white collar jobs all around.’’
He added that this center has been created not just for fun but to
encourage youth empowerment, youth mental and physical development and
community bonding.
Giannopoulos urged youths who are the beneficiaries to make good
use of the centre, to engage in activities that will encourage positive social
cohesion; a forum to dissipate their bountiful energy in creativity, sports,
learning and other positive pursuits.
Also speaking, Lagos State Governor, Akinwunmi Ambode, commended
the management of PZ Cussons Foundation for the initiative.
He appealed to other private sector organisations to come up with
credible mechanisms and projects to stimulate the youths into productive
engagements. “This is the essence of corporate social responsibility, to give
back to the society and to contribute positively to your community,” he said.
Ambode added that corporate citizens needs to focus on sectors
that will affect our youths in the bulging population, in areas like sports,
health, education, securities and not on gifts and bonanzas only.
“Tremendous corporate social responsibilities contributions have
been made by many private sector companies to security trust fund. Such contributions
are needed in other sectors to support government in our quest to build a Lagos
that works for all of us. As a government, we will continue to explore ways to
create an enabling environment and make businesses thrie.
‘’ We are committed to introducing new incentives for businesses
in Lagos to enable them grow, support the society and take more of our youths
off the streets.
The choice of a recreation centre as a contribution to the society
is well appreciated. This is one of the key trusts of our administration. This
centre will positively engage the young people and help them challenge their
energies towards productive ventures. Centres such as this, will serve as a
point for the conception of great ideas and unleashing of potentials in all areas
of human endeavour. I call on our youths to make the best use of this facility
to develop themselves and be the best they can be.
Hazeem Muri Okunola, Permanent Secretary Ministry of youth and
social development added that the centre used to be an ordinary playground and
has now been elevated to the status of a multi purpose youth centre. I commend
PZ Cussons Foundation for this great transformation and hope that this will be
a challenge to other corporate bodies on how to impact positively in the community
that embrace their products and services. We urge all and sundry to join hands
with Lagos state government in the provision of amenities for the development
of our youths.
He then urge the youths of Lagos Island who are beneficiaries of
this to make optimal use of this and we will as a government ensure that the
centre is equipped with the latest IT equipment, vocational skill training
equipments and other facilities for recreation.
-The Guardian
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