Enugu — MINISTER for Youths Development, Senator Akinlade Olasunkanmi, yesterday, charged youths in the South East to shun acts of violence, militancy and pipeline vandalism and embrace meaningful ventures that would guarantee their future.

Speaking during a five-day training programme organised by the Federal Government for youths in the South East at the NYSC Orientation Camp in Awgu, Enugu State, Senator Olasunkanmi said experience had shown that violence as currently being witnessed in the Niger-Delta region of the country affect developmental efforts of any government or community, advising the youths to desist from vices that could be a clog in the wheel of their progress.

Expressing disappointment over the crisis situation in the Niger-Delta, the Minister who was represented by the Deputy Director, Planning, Monitoring and Information Management in the Ministry, Mr. Barnabas Ihekire, while expressing optimism that the Federal Government would soon address the problem, advised the youths in the South East to resist the temptation of engaging in such acts of violence.

He advised that the youths should rather embrace measures that would lead to a responsible enterprise, adding that the present government of Umar Yar'Adua was ever ready to assist youths in realising their dreams.

Part of this, according to him, was a deliberate training programme for the youths, which according to him would equip them for self development.

"Government places emphasis on youth development that is why it established a full Ministry for this purpose. It is because of the importance which government places on youth development", he said.