The City Boy Movement (CBM) has described the Renewed Hope South East Youth Tour held in Owerri, Imo State, as a major success, citing the impressive turnout of young people and stakeholders from across the region.
In a statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Dr. Emana Ambrose-Amawhe, the group said the two-day programme attracted youth leaders, entrepreneurs, policy experts, and community stakeholders who gathered to discuss opportunities for youth participation in national development under the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
According to the statement, the programme began with a Policy Summit that featured extensive discussions on governance, enterprise development, access to finance, and the role of young Nigerians in driving economic growth and national development.
The summit, it noted, created a platform for meaningful dialogue and exchange of ideas on how young Nigerians can take advantage of emerging opportunities and contribute more actively to the country’s growth.
The second day of the programme featured a large empowerment rally which attracted thousands of enthusiastic youths who gathered to demonstrate their support for the Renewed Hope Agenda and participate in empowerment initiatives designed to promote enterprise and economic opportunities.
However, organisers explained that the empowerment distribution exercise was disrupted when excitement among the large crowd triggered a surge toward the designated distribution area, breaching barricades that had been put in place for coordination.
While the distribution had commenced in an orderly manner with beneficiaries already receiving empowerment items, the surge resulted in the remaining items being accessed by members of the crowd before the structured distribution process could be completed.
The group stated that although the development disrupted the planned arrangement, it reflected the overwhelming turnout and the strong interest of young Nigerians in the empowerment initiatives.
The City Boy Movement also dismissed attempts by some commentators to misrepresent the incident, stressing that such claims do not reflect the overall success and impact of the two-day programme.
The organisation reaffirmed its commitment to youth empowerment, constructive engagement, and strengthening grassroots participation in national development, added that the strong response recorded in Owerri demonstrated the growing momentum behind the Renewed Hope Agenda championed by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
