Izon youths have been charged to pursue purposeful education, acquire practical skills, preserve their language and cultural identity, and embrace discipline, unity and responsible leadership as essential ingredients for the advancement of the Ijaw Nation.

Dr. Newman A. Kusimi gave the charge while delivering a lecture titled “Empowering Izon Youth through Education, Language, Culture, and Leadership” during the Izon Day Celebration organised by the National Union of Izon-Ibe Students (NUIS), College of Education Warri (COEWA) Chapter, on Wednesday, August 5, 2026.

Addressing Izon students and other guests at the celebration, Kusimi, who is the Managing Director of NAKUS Group of Companies, said the future of the Izon Nation rests significantly on the choices and investments young people make today, stressing that sustainable development must begin with deliberate efforts to build knowledgeable, skilled, culturally conscious and responsible youths.

“The future of the Izon Nation does not begin tomorrow—it begins with us. The decisions we make today will shape the society we build for ourselves and for generations to come,” he said.

Speaking on education, Kusimi described learning as one of the greatest instruments for personal and societal advancement, but cautioned students against limiting their development to academic qualifications as he encouraged young people to complement formal education with vocational and entrepreneurial skills such as farming, tailoring, plumbing, carpentry, electrical work, baking and other trades capable of promoting self-reliance.

According to him, combining academic knowledge with practical skills would place young people in a stronger position to take advantage of opportunities in an increasingly competitive society.

“Education is your greatest weapon, while a trade is your strongest support,” he told the students, urging them to embrace continuous learning and develop diverse abilities that would enable them to adapt to changing economic and social realities.

On the preservation of the Izon language, Kusimi warned that losing indigenous languages could contribute to an identity crisis among younger generations. He therefore urged Izon students to speak their mother tongue proudly and ensure its transmission to future generations, noting that language remains an important link between a people, their history, culture and collective identity.

He, however, encouraged the youths to learn other Nigerian and international languages, saying multilingualism could expand their networks, improve communication and create greater educational and economic opportunities.

Turning to culture, the guest lecturer said Izon cultural values of respect, unity, discipline, resilience and communal responsibility must be protected and promoted by the younger generation, as he challenged youths to project the Ijaw Nation through peace, creativity and excellence rather than violence and destructive behaviour.

Kusimi particularly called for greater promotion of Izon music, dance, sports, fishing heritage and other cultural practices, while encouraging young people to creatively adapt aspects of their heritage to contemporary realities.

“Each of us should ask ourselves: What positive legacy will my generation leave behind?” he challenged the gathering.

On leadership, Kusimi said young people must discard the notion that leadership begins and ends with occupying political office, stressing that leadership is demonstrated through everyday conduct, responsibility and service.

According to him, youths exhibit leadership when they demonstrate honesty, accountability, responsibility and willingness to place collective interests above personal considerations in their schools, student associations, churches, families and communities.

He identified discipline as one of the strongest foundations for success, telling the students that anyone determined to succeed should develop the ability to remain focused and responsible even without supervision.

“If you truly want to succeed in life, you do not need constant supervision—you need discipline. Discipline is what keeps you focused when no one is watching,” Kusimi stated.

The lecturer also stressed the importance of unity and teamwork, warning young people against believing they could attain meaningful and sustainable success entirely on their own, stressing that individuals require the knowledge, encouragement, cooperation and support of others to grow, urging Izon youths to support one another rather than allowing unhealthy rivalry and division to undermine their collective advancement.

“We must also remember that no one succeeds alone. We all need other people to grow, learn, and succeed. God blesses unity, and He blesses teamwork,” he said.

Kusimi further called on young people to celebrate one another’s successes and cultivate leadership founded on integrity, vision, humility and service, while identifying education, language preservation, cultural consciousness and responsible leadership as four critical pillars upon which the empowerment of Izon youths and the future development of the Ijaw Nation could be built.

According to him, commitment to the four pillars would not only transform the lives of individual youths, but also contribute significantly to the socio-economic and cultural development of the Izon nation and Nigeria.

He therefore urged Izon students to continuously improve themselves, acquire practical skills, preserve their identity, respect their cultural heritage and demonstrate leadership wherever they find themselves.

“Education gives you knowledge. Skills give you opportunities. Discipline keeps you on the path to success. Unity gives you strength. Because when Izon youth rise, the Izon Nation rises,” Kusimi concluded.

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