REPORT OF THE INAUGURAL LECTURE OF THE YOUTH EMPOWERMENT PROGRAM
The program scheduled for the 12th of July, 2008 came up as scheduled, though it was planned to empower senior secondary school students, but due to the teachers’ strike going on in Nigeria, the students could not make it, but Thank God who made the day to come to pass, by bringing the serving Youth Corp Members in the Local Government to the occasion.
The program started at a few minutes after twelve in the afternoon, the Chairman of the occasion, in person of Chief Oliver Eze N.U, the DPM of IZZI Local Government, was available to chair it and to contribute his own quota to the empowerment of the youth who were present.
The seminar started on a powerful moodnote with the Opening Charge by Dr. Wande Ogunsanya, Zonal Coordinator, NCCF IZZI, where he defined Empowerment and what it takes to get empowered. A particular mention was made of refining ones talent to skills, which can only take place through the right attitude and empowerment.
After the opening charge, the Chairman gave his welcome address, emphasizing the importance of using our youthfulness usefully, he also talked about empowerment, using himself as an example, he read Political Science/Education but he also taught himself how to carve, which he was able to use to take the step of going to school for more education.
Then, the main speaker, Alo Olatokunboh Akin came on stage to present the first paper (unfortunately, he could not present the second one, because of time factor). In his paper titled: Self-Empowerment through Attitude, he defined Attitude, talked about Factors affecting Attitude, Developing a Positive Attitude, Benefits of Positive Attitude and Consequences of Negative Attitude, he also gave some powerful Words of Knowledge such as: “If you have a negative attitude, your eyes will not be opened to see opportunities”, “The Attitude of a champion is always Positive – have this attitude in you”, he also gave a new definition of knowledge thus: Know – l – Edge, which means: “What you Know gives you an Edge above the rest”.
There were jokes, testimonies (particular, to confirm that with negative attitude about a place, situation or person you can not see opportunities) and recitation.
After the lecture, the chairman gave a summary and the essence of the lecture to the audience, after which we went into the questions and answer session.
Two important questions were asked, viz: someone asked that: How can talent be refined into skill? – The answer given was that: Identify the talent with the highest priority i.e. what take your interest the most, get more information and training on it and develop yourself by practicing.
The other question was that: How can one finance his/her talent? – The answer given was that: Generate an Idea, write it down (it may be in form of proposal), you can then begin to sell your idea to people or make use of the little you have to start and it will then attract people who will be interested in sponsoring it.
Then came the time for donations, the chairman opened the session by donating some money, the corps liaison officer also gave his own donation and encouraged everybody present to do the same, he also gave the closing remark/vote of thanks, the program came to a close with the closing prayer said by one of the participants.
The refreshment was taken twice, after the session break and at the end of the program.
At the end, we were able to see that those that came did not go back the same and we give all glory, honour and adoration to the Almighty God, who also gave a perfect weather condition to suit the occasion

IMPORTANCE OF THE YOUTH EMPOWERMENT PROGRAM
This program is important for the following:

• It will let youths know what they can become in life
• It helps Secondary School Students to become more serious with their studies
• It will help the youths at large to be more productive
• It will help youths to be more positive minded
• It will help in reducing the poverty level of Nigerians through positive thinking and behaviour
• It will help in combating crime, by making youths to be creative
• It will help to bring out the best in individuals
• It will make the youths to be self-dependent, rather than depend on the Government
• It will help the youths to be able to use what God has deposited in them positively