Barentu — Youths in Barentu and Gogne, Gash-Barka region, voiced readiness to back up the national development drive.

They made the pledge at separate meetings in which they said that they would extend a helping hand towards national endeavors of laying groundwork for nationals to become primary beneficiaries of the country's resources.

Among the participants, Koji Magi, Hamd Adem, Birhane Zecarias and Awed Ahmed explained that the role of education is a major pre-requisite in nurturing productive youths, and asserted that they would mount staunch resistance against external conspiracies.

Mr. Zerisenai Tesfai, head of the NUEYS branch in Gash-Barka region, called on pertinent bodies to enhance participation in endeavors to advance the production capacity of the youth, and that of youths in awareness-raising activities.