Johnbosco Onunkwo, a youthful businessman turned politician is among those currently aspiring to be governor of Anambra State ahead of 2017 governorship election in the state.
In his own case Onunkwo who hails from Umuchu in Aguata council area of the state, is banking on the youth to get to the government house.
In line with this, Awka the state capital was agog last Friday as Onunkwo using what is called Jonhbosco Foundation mobilized the youth from all comers of the state to educate them on a number of issues concerning their future particularly the need for them to henceforth rise up to actively participate in politics and even take over the helm of affairs completely by electing young people into leadership positions.
The popular Emmaus House along Arthur EZE Avenue was filled to the brim by the youth who trooped out for the program tagged “New Conversation” with a rider titled “facts, policies and decision making”. Popular Nollywood Actor Yul Edochie led a cream of Nollywood actors and actresses and other personalities to grace the occasion.
In his speech which attracted thunderous ovation from the audience the convener and chairman of the foundation Chief Johnbosco Onunkwo who was recently conferred with a chieftaincy title as Ochendo Ndigbo by the traditional ruler of Nri kingdom his majesty EZE Obidiegwu Onyeso told the youth that what they want to achieve in life is possible through hard work, discipline and perseverance using himself as typical example.
He gave a story of how he struggled to go to university to study engineering at a time when his parents who were both teachers were not capable enough to raise money to see him through noting that he worked hard using his father’s old 404 Peugeot car for commercial service to raise money to pay school fees and do other things to survive.
When asked about the chances of the new conversation project being accepted by the people considering the fact that the society is entangled by monopolies, highly stereotyped institutions and rigid people, he said that time has come for the progressive minds to rise up and break monopolies and fix the society in the right direction.
He urged the youth to build networks and ensure that their numerical strength are well utilized, noting that the strength of youth in the schools, churches and in the streets and villages is lavishing because there is no rallying point for awareness, coordination and networking among the youth.
“I met a good number of youth at Ebube Muonso adoration in Uke and told them they need coordination and networking to be politically useful, such a large number of youth can initiate a network and reach others in various part of the state and before you know it they install one among themselves as a council chairman, a legislature, a governor and so on” he added
The Umuchu born businessman promised to create jobs and provide lasting solution to the problem of power with alternative measures with a view to take the economy of Anambra state to the next level if elected as governor insisting that it is time for the youth to take over the mantle of leadership in the light of the nation state.
There were resource persons who spoke on different topics with Super Sport broadcaster Charles Anazodo as the moderator. Yul Edochie opened the conversation by fielding questions from the youthful audience on a number of issues ranging from his breakthrough to lime light, need to embrace the culture of discipline and hard work and to put the interest of the future ahead of immediate gains and satisfaction among the youth.
Edochie gave a detailed story on how he worked hard to breakthrough pointing out that he never relied on his father’s fame to climb up. When asked about how he made it to the top the youthful actor said “people believe that I rode at the back of my father, no I didn’t, I worked hard on my own, first of all I discovered early enough that I can act, then I went to the University of Port Harcourt to study Theatre Art so as to equip myself”.
He said that after graduation, he started searching for invitation for roles in movies and was ready to honour such invitation without asking for payment. “I was ready to play any role for free, in so far I will have the opportunity to show case what I have in me, that was my decision and eventually I got the opportunity in faraway Lagos and I took a night bus to go and play that role for free with money given me by my mum” he added.
Source – The Authority
