Kwale Governor Fatuma Achani has called on the youths to work on their talents to earn a decent income and also to make the coastal county proud. Governor Achani asked the youth in the region who have God-given talents to always pursue their dreams, irrespective of whatever challenges they encounter. Achani called on youth to identify their potential and talents with a view to putting them to positive use for the socio-economic development of the county. She spoke when she toured the state-of-the art audio-visual recording studios at the Kwale Cultural Centre. Achani says the Sh14 million facility set up by the county government aims to promote talents and empower more youths through music. She described the youth as the key driving force of the county and said that their role is important in the resolve to make Kwale great by developing their creative minds. She challenged the youth to use music to find alternatives to crime, gangsterism, and drug and substance abuse, among other vices. ‘We have set up this modern studio to help the local youth exploit their potential in the arts industry, which consists of music, dance, drama, and poetry,’ she said, adding that the county has invested so much in youth development and empowerment programmes. The county boss says the devolved unit would use music and performing arts to empower young people, hoping to create opportunities for them in the entertainment industry in the long term. She termed music as a critical tool for youth development, noting that the devolved government was determined to support young people in their endevours to perform and create musical contents. Achani said that the devolved government is working on strategies to accord top priority to utilise the talent and energy of youth in nation-building. She said her administration is determined to create an enabling environment for the empowerment of the local youth so as to make them self-reliant. Meanwhile, Governor Achani has assured residents that her administration will strengthen cultural and traditional heritage in the county. She urged residents to uphold and jealously guard the customs and traditions bequeathed to them by their forefathers. She said this when she joined the Jipange Kayamba Group in Chivyogo village in Tiwi ward, Matuga sub-county, during a cultural event and called on the residents to learn from each other through cultural diversity. Achani maintained that priority attention will be given to tourism and culture by harnessing the richness of the diverse local cultures.
Source: Kenya News Agency