By Victor Nwegede, Abakaliki.
The founder of the Regina Pacis Foundation, Arc Edward Nkwegu has urged the general public especially the youth to develop a mastery of self-sustenance and self-actualization through entrepreneurship.
This according to Nkwegu is one of the best ways by which Nigerian youth can gain financial liberty.
He made this known during the 19th anniversary of the Regina Pacis Foundation held in his Okpoduma Agbaja country home in the Izzi local government area of Ebonyi state.
He said: “Self-sustenance is one of the most difficult projects to undertake and a difficult topic to discuss. One of the reasons that make it so tricky to discuss is that self-sustenance is directly related to money, and when it comes to money, most people are ‘insane.'
“Insanity is defined by Albert Einstein as doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.
“When it comes to money, most people repeat their mistakes over and over again. This error in reasoning manifests as the mistake of spending more than they earn, hoping to reap without sowing, etc.
“The cause and effect, the means and ends, the seed and fruit relationship cannot be severed; for the effect already blooms in the cause, the end pre-exists in the means, and the fruit exists in the seed.
“Most humans think that to be great is to possess one side of nature, that is the sweet without the other side: the bitter. Unfortunately, just like you cannot get inside without an outside or light without a shadow, so it is that you cannot have self-sustenance without the rendition of useful service to your neighbour or the next person. In nature, nothing can be given; all things are sold.
“People go to school for a better life and after the completion of their studies; they have succeeded in learning little or nothing at all about money and self-sustenance. This is because the teachers cannot give what they don’t have.
“Here at Regina Pacis Foundation, we share the belief that poverty, which is the absence of self-sustenance, is caused by ignorance and lack of financial education.
“People of all races and walks of life struggle for money. Most of the rich people of yesterday are the new poor of today. Meanwhile, many of the middle class of yesterday are now the poorest of the poor today whilst the poorest of yesterday are already in their early graves.
“There is a new group described now as the lost generation. They are well-educated men and women in their late 30s and 40s with first, second and some third degrees but have not worked for a single day.
“Some are married with children and still living with their parents. They have no hope of ever working."
Arc. Edward Nkwegu said that the Regina Pacis Foundation is all about giving people a second chance at money and life through the teaching of financial education to instil self-reliance.
According to Nkwegu, the new money is knowledge, and knowledge begins with words.
“The best news of all is that words are free. Money alone can never end poverty. Many people give poor people money out of kindness. Often, giving money to the poor keeps them poor longer.
“If we want to end poverty, we must start by upgrading the words poor people use through financial education. The need for curriculum reformation in our school system cannot be overemphasized.
“Give a man fish and you will feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish, and you will feed him for life,” he said.
The founder of the organisation said there is an urgent need for the incubation of micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in society to create sustainable and inclusive jobs for the youths, women and vulnerable people.
According to him, MSMEs remain the engine room of every economy and the greatest employer of labour across the globe.
The Chairman of the occasion, Dr Ezeh Emmanuel Ezeh encouraged the Nigerian youths to strive to become entrepreneurs and employers of labour anywhere they found themselves across the globe.
Dr Ezeh, an Ebonyi-born entrepreneur with other speakers at the event officiated by Bishop Peter Nworie Chukwu of Abakaliki Catholic Diocese including the former Nigerian Minister, Chief Godwin Ogbaga, Eze Cyprian Nweke, Eze Simeon Azuewa, and Eze Augustine Nwego urged the youth to be resilient to surmount the economic situation in Nigeria.
