Cross River State federal lawmaker representing Bekwara, Obudu, Obanliku in the House of Representatives, Hon. Legor Idagbo on Wednesday bagged the Nigerian Youth Merit Awards 2017.
The merit award, which was organized by the National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN) was given to Hon Idagbo in recognition of his role in the emancipation and development of the Nigerian youth.
Idagbo, who is the deputy chairman, House Committee on Legislative Budget and Research, was physically present at event for the investiture. He was accompanied by his colleagues at the National Assembly, the chairman House Committee on Legislative Budget and Research, Hon. Golu Timothy and Hon. Johnbull Shakarau.
In his, remark, Hon Idagbo, thanked the leadership of the NYCN for the honour and urged the youths to take advantage of the recently passed #NotTooYoungToRun Bill by the National Assembly and take their rightful place towards moving the country forward.
He said, “I thank the youths for this honour bestowed on me and I enjoin the youths to key into certain initiatives. The federal government policy on youths. The recent bill that has been passed from the floor of the National Assembly, the NotTooYoungToRun bill were on the front burner for pushing towards its passage. This is the time for the youths to take their rightful place and see what they can do to move the country forward.
“Thank you very much my dear colleagues, very respected ladies and gentlemen at the high table, National Council of Nigerian Youths, ordinarily it is not in my character to receive awards like this. I have been in public service for well over 12 years, and I shy away from receiving such awards. But because of where this award is coming from, the National Youth Council of Nigeria, I am implying to receive it. Because I know it is not only in recognition of what I have done but it’s a call to do more in service to our youths. So I offer myself moving forward, to do everything I can to ensure that the welfare of our youths, not only in my federal constituency, which I represent, but in the country as a whole, would be put on the front burner and made better.
“On my own part I will continue to be supportive to the youths. I will continue to do my very best to ensure that we create that enabling environment for our youths to thrive. Once again thank you very much for this award.”
Earlier, the representative of the national chairman of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Sen Ahmed Makarfi and women leader of the party, Hajiya Hadiza, while presenting the award to the Hon Idagbo urged him to use the recognition to continue to support the Nigerian youths and move Nigeria forward.
She said, “I will pray that the Nigerian youth would strive as much as they can to see that they are good representatives of the older one, now that they are striving to take over.”
Hon. Idagbo was called to the Nigerian Bar in 1999 after his graduation. He also attended the Harvard Fellowship School, where he obtained a diploma in 2014. His career spans working in ministry of justice before going in to private practice as a lawyer.
In 2007 he was elected council chairman of Bekwara local government. He was also elected chairman of ALGON in Cross River State. In 2010 Bekwara local government recorded zero infant mortality because of the good work he did there achieving the millennium development goals. In 2012, former Cross River State governor Liyel Imoke appointed him as commissioner for works because of the good work he did at the local government level.
Also because of his passion for youth development and education, he was sworn in on June 2015 as a honourable member of the House of Representatives. Because of his laudable contribution towards the development of his constituency in Cross River State and Nigeria as a whole. And most importantly because of his role in the emancipation and development of the Nigerian youth, the National youth Council of Nigeria has selected and found him worthy as one of the recipient of the Nigerian Youth Merit Award 2017.
