The Rivers State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Adaeze Chidinma Oreh, has urged adolescents and young people across the state to take advantage of the newly established Adolescents and Young People Innovation Hub Centre, saying it offers empowerment.
Dr. Oreh made the call on Tuesday while commissioning the Innovation Hub Centre located at Fimie-Ama Community in Port Harcourt Local Government Area, PHALGA.
She said the centre was designed to respond to the real needs of adolescents and young people, adding that access to relevant skills remains key to building confidence and stability.
According to her, the Hub is equipped with ICT and robotics rooms, app development and media studios, beauty and vocational training spaces, wellness and counselling services, as well as a food technology unit.
“This Hub reflects a deep understanding of the diverse needs of our adolescents and young people. It provides a supportive environment where skills, creativity and innovation can thrive,” Oreh said while unveiling the plaque.
She commended the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, CDC, and the Institute of Human Virology Nigeria, IHVN, working in partnership with Project HOPE, for initiating the programme.
The Commissioner noted that the Rivers State Government views youth empowerment through skills acquisition, confidence building and access to opportunities as a foundation for development, social stability and economic growth.
She assured that the state government would continue to support programmes that empower young people, promote innovation, reduce vulnerability and drive socio-economic transformation.
Speaking earlier, the Chief Operating Officer and Managing Director of the Institute of Human Virology Nigeria, Dr. Charles Olalekan Mensah, said the Innovation Hub Centre was established to equip young people with relevant skills and create opportunities for growth.
He explained that the delivery of the Hub was made possible through strong leadership, strategic partnerships and collaboration among stakeholders.
In a goodwill message delivered virtually, the Country Director of the CDC in Nigeria, Dr. Meghna Desai, represented by the Deputy Director, Programmes, Dr. Jerry Gwamna, described the Hub as a safe space for the development of adolescents and young people.
She said the initiative would provide beneficiaries with critical entrepreneurial, technical and life skills that reduce vulnerability and promote economic independence, including support for young people living with HIV/AIDS.
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