A non-governmental organisation, Value Projects Initiative, has tasked Federal and State Governments on announcing and celebrating exemplary and hardworking youths as a source of motivation to others.

The National Coordinator of NGO, Mr. Chukwuma Okenwa, gave the advice while speaking with journalists in Enugu on how to redirect the thought and energy of youths for positive development.

Okenwa noted that government celebrating exemplary and hardworking youths within all spheres of human endeavor would help to redress their focus to nation building.

According to him, youths doing exemplary well in academics, business and innovation should be encouraged rather than the present focus of honouring youths with questionable wealth by some communities.

“This will go a long way to encourage youths working hard and showing exemplary qualities to further uplift the country’s image in various spheres.

“Making a sort of hero or mentor out of them will encourage those not doing the right things to emulate positive and good example as well,” he said.

The national coordinator also urged governments at all level to be more responsible to issues and development of the youths.

He called for a deliberate policy to strengthen all youth programmes at the Federal and State Ministries of Youth and Sports in order to have a holistic framework for youth development.

“Government at all levels should support innovations and passions of youths to further bring out the best in them and return the confidence of the generality of the youths that the country have great concern for them.

“Most times, the negative things being done by few Nigerians youths in Diaspora such as crime and vices show little regard to the image and goodwill of the country. This has to be changed,” he said.

Okenwa, however, called on youths to succeed in 2020 by getting connected to people they look up to (mentors) as well as ensure that they focus on pursuing their dreams and passions.