Mrs Elizabeth Ehigiamusoe, Founder of the Ehiliz Support Initiative, has urged Nigerian youths to avoid social vices and focus on acquiring life-transforming skills.
By Oluwatope Lawanson
Mrs Elizabeth Ehigiamusoe, Founder of the Ehiliz Support Initiative, has urged Nigerian youths to avoid social vices and focus on acquiring life-transforming skills.
Ehigiamusoe, also a gospel artiste and TV presenter, made this remark at the unveiling of the non-governmental organisation and its stakeholders’ engagement in Lagos on Friday.
She stressed that skill acquisition would make youths self-reliant, enable them contribute positively to society, and help them shape Nigeria’s future.
Ehigiamusoe advised them to shun gambling, drug abuse, cultism, cybercrime and other destructive practices.
She explained that the initiative targets empowering less privileged youths with vocational and entrepreneurial skills, particularly in ICT and related fields.
According to her, the aim is to create youth development programmes that equip young people with relevant skills for self-reliance and nation-building.
She highlighted the importance of meaningful youth engagement to prevent them from being lured into negative behaviours.
Speaking on her TV show, Vivid-View With Ehiliz, she described it as a platform for moral re-orientation, patriotism, peace, love and social development.
Ehigiamusoe noted that since starting the initiative 11 years ago, she had impacted over 3,000 lives, with more than 100 youths empowered this year alone.
“I believe an idle mind is the devil’s workshop. Engaging youths productively keeps them away from gambling, drug abuse, internet fraud and cultism,” she said.
She explained that all her projects, including music, TV and empowerment programmes, are youth-centred.
The initiative, she added, also links young people with professionals who provide mentorship and career guidance.
“I have always loved the youth. Perhaps that is why I invest in them,” she said.
She noted that friends chose to honour her at the unveiling, having witnessed her contributions to society’s development.
According to her, the initiative also supports financially challenged youths, including orphans, the homeless and those unable to pay rents, school fees or hospital bills.
“We assist as much as we can—financially, educationally and socially—whenever I am convinced the need is genuine,” she added.
Ehigiamusoe said her desire was to expand the initiative’s reach and impact more lives in the coming years.
She revealed plans to grow the initiative within the next five to ten years, touching more lives across Nigeria.
Through her songs, she said, she also spreads peace and love, bringing joy to people.
She urged other philanthropists to support her projects, warning that neglecting vulnerable youths could create wider societal problems.
Ehigiamusoe also charged youths to be positive agents of change, avoiding choices that could ruin their lives.
Mr Frank Ibrahim, a photographer, praised Ehigiamusoe for transforming his life and that of his brother through mentorship and training.
“We were orphans without help until we met Ehiliz. She trained us in photography, and today we own our studio. We are grateful,” he said. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)