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Mr. Eric Opoku, Deputy Brong Ahafo Regional Minister, on Monday said the youth, who constitute the most active segment of the population, should be helped to contribute to national development. He made the call at the opening of a four-day management conference of the National Service Scheme (NSS) in Sunyani. The event, which was being attended by regional heads and national executives of the NSS, aimed at giving participants the opportunity to review their activities in the previous years, deliberate on issues concerning the Scheme and find solutions to them. In a statement read on his behalf, Mr Opoku �said the youth are the pride of the nation and constitute the driving force to advance the nation's agenda.� Mr. Opoku said the NSS was committed to training fresh graduates of tertiary institutions to enable them to contribute to national development. He said �the Scheme�s overriding objective is to instill in the youth sense of direction, discipline, patriotism and a culture of hard work, as well as to afford them the opportunity to exercise their civic responsibility towards the state.� Mr Opoku appealed to parents to encourage their children to accept postings to deprived areas. He asked NSS managers and administrators to ensure that personnel were posted where their services were most required. Mr Opoku said service personnel face accommodation problem as landlords demand high advance payments for rent. He lauded the re-introduction of the NSS national service agricultural project, and asked the Scheme to contact Municipal, Metropolitan and District Assemblies and traditional rulers for the release of land for the project. Nana Agyewodin Adu Gyamfi Ampem, Omanhene of Akyerensua, urged the participants to come out with practicable solutions to problems affecting the Scheme.