Youths in the State have again been reminded to inculcate high moral virtue of discipline and honesty for the betterment of the society.

The Head of Personnel, Esit Eket Local Government Area comrade Ifreke Ekpa gave the advice when the Executive Members of Akwa Ibom State Youth Leadership Forum presented an Excellence Award to him in his office at Uquo.

Comrade Ekpa stressed that as future leaders youths should strive to acquire the wherewithal that would position them for the task ahead and not indulge in acts of kidnapping, abduction and extortion of money from members of the public.

The Head of Personnel who condemned in its entirety, the act of hostage-taking by our youths for ransom, described the act as a new dimension of crime wave which is capable of retarding government efforts in the development of society.

Comrade Ekpa reminded the youths that the development and growth of the society depends on their conscious and positive contributions to the developmental programs of government and urged them to refrain from acts inimical to their future progress.

Comrade Ekpa, himself a patron of various associations and unions within and outside the state, commended Akwa Ibom State Youth Leadership Forum for institutionalizing a system of recognizing merit. He dedicated the award to the council staff for their loyalty and support for him and the administration.

Presenting the Excellence Award, the President of Akwa Ibom State Youth Leadership Forum, Prince Enobong Ikpe, said the award was in recognition of the recipient's contributions to youths empowerment programmes in the State and the development of the nation in general.

Prince Ikpe used the occasion to enumerate the programmes of the association which include among others, the statewide public enlightenment campaign against violent crimes and other vices. He also announced the association's plan to launch youth capacity building and development projects, and solicited for financial assistance from well-meaning citizens of Akwa Ibom State.