Local and national authorities expressed the need to promote the youth for the benefit the new nation on the inauguration of the renovated Wau Youth Centre.
The centre was handed over by the International Organization for Migration (IOM) to the government of Western Bahr el-Ghazal on Tuesday, Voice of Hope reported.The director for IOM sub office in Wau Salvatore Sortino congratulated the people of South Sudan for their new born country.
He called upon all the UN agencies to focus on capacity building especially for the youth.
Undersecretary with the national Ministry of Youth, Sports and Recreation, Peter Baptist Abakar, was in Wau to attend the ceremony.
He said that the youth in South Sudan represent about 70 percent of the population and the Ministry is trying to address different issues affecting the young.
He added that empowering the youth with tools including health and education that can help them in the development of the new nation is one of the priorities of his Ministry.
Mr. Abakar called upon the UN partners to take their roles to help the youth in many areas.
Western Bahr el Ghazal Governor Rizik Zachariah Hassan gave a word of thanks and appreciation to all UN agencies for supporting the government in many development fields.
He added that the Centre will help the youth of the state to lower crime rates.
The governor encouraged the youth to participate in useful activities and avoid idleness and hanging around in market places.
The rehabilitation of Wau Youth Centre has been funded by UNDP and implemented by IOM.
The project included the renovation of some existing structures and the construction of a new hall and toilets.