He said the weaknesses and problems of the present society could be linked to ignorance and the lack of better education, hence the need for every society to prioritise the education of its citizens.

Torgbui Glakpe was speaking at a grand durbar of chiefs held last Saturday at Ave-Afiadenyigba in the Akatsi district of the Volta Region to climax this year's annual Bli Za (Maize Festival) celebrated by the six states in the Ave traditional area.

Torgbui Glakpe said the state, having realised the importance of education has been in consultation with some stakeholders to create educational avenues for its citizens. He said an education endowment fund has been instituted to cater for brilliant but needy students.

Torgbui Glakpe told the youth that all efforts being made by the state to see them well educated would come to waste if the youth do not devote themselves to the subject.

Torgbui Glakpe elaborated on the effects of HIV/AIDS on community development and cautioned the youth against living risky lifestyles.

The president of Ave Development Union (AVEDU) Mr Mc-Solo Dziwornu Ziddah said the initiation of the Bli Za Festival for the past seven years has chalked many successes.

He said these include the establishment of the Ave Educational Endowment Fund and the coming together of chiefs from the six states of Ave namely Tagba, Afiadenyigba, Havi, Dzadzepe, Dakpa, and Dzalele to form the Ave Council of Chiefs.

He said the Union has the plans of now going into income-generating ventures.

He said the developmental problem in the area, which needs immediate attention is the ongoing electrification project that has come to a standstill. He appealed to the DCE, Mr Nicholas Coffie Negble to liaise with the Member of Parliament for Ave-Avenor Hon. Edward Doe-Adjaho to address the problem.

On education Mr Ziddah said the only one senior secondary school in the area is poorly resourced and needs a facelift.

He said one major problem facing the area is the presence of Fulani herdsmen whose cattle, he said, destroy the crops of peasant farmers.

He said their presence in the area has become a nuisance and threat of livelihood to the farmers, and appealed to the District Security Council to do something about the situation before it gets out of hand.

Mr. Ziddah called for the improvement of roads linking the Ave state to the district capital, and the payment of compensations for government-acquired lands.

He appealed to the DCE and the MP to rectify the undue delay in the release of grants and donations made to communities in support of community-initiated projects so that such funds are utilised in time.

He appealed to Volta Region Minister Mr Kofi Dzamesi to help site in the area, at least one project under the President's Special Initiative (PSI), which he said, is dotted all over the country.

Torgbui Gbordzekpor Fianu, chief of Ave-Afiadenyigba, chaired the durbar.