Support My Initiative to Create a Crime-Free Society, NASS Urged

By Ekuson Nw’Ogbunka
Abuja

Princess Anita Umewene, Publisher of City Mail Newspaper and Convener of Vision 2035, has called on the Senate and the House of Representatives to support her initiative aimed at creating a crime-free society among African teenagers.
She made the appeal while speaking with journalists at the National Assembly on Monday.

According to her, the 10-year programme, Vision 2035, is designed to engage teenagers constructively through vocational training and mentorship, with the goal of preventing crime and promoting positive development. Princess Umewene disclosed that she is sponsoring a bill seeking the establishment of monitoring committees in all states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) to ensure effective implementation of the initiative.
“We want to catch them young,” she said, stressing that early intervention is critical to curbing crime among youths. She explained that vocational centres currently being developed across the 36 states would provide skills acquisition opportunities and keep teenagers meaningfully engaged, especially during school holidays.
Princess Umewene also underscored the importance of parental involvement, noting that conflicting messages from parents and society often undermine the moral development of teenagers. She urged the federal government to fully support the initiative, emphasizing that “nothing goes good without funds.”
She further revealed that, as part of her advocacy, she has released a song titled Crying Free Society, which highlights the importance of education and the inculcation of the right values among young people. She said Vision 2035 is positioned to make Nigeria a leading example in the drive for a crime-free society in Africa.
Princess Umewene expressed strong belief that engaging teenagers in productive activities would significantly reduce crime and foster positive growth. She reaffirmed her commitment to mentoring and coaching young people to help them achieve their aspirations.
The initiative has continued to attract attention nationwide, and Princess Umewene expressed optimism that it would inspire collective action towards building a crime-free society.
She described Vision 2035 as a call to action for Nigerians to unite in working towards a brighter and safer future for African teenagers.