The Minister of State for Youth Development, Mr. Ayodele Olawande has urged Nigerian youth to rally together to fix the nation, as the country belongs to them.
The Minister stated this when the leadership of the National Youth Leaders forum of all political parties in Nigeria, led by the chairman of the forum, Ambassador Muhammed Awwal Musa paid him a courtesy visit in Abuja, the nation’s capital.
Mr. Olawande revealed that there are plans on the ground to strengthen the Nigerian youth to ensure that they are equipped to fix the country.
The Minister lamented that majority of the youths in the country are not skillful, a situation which according him, has given room for foreigners to take up jobs that Nigerians would have taken in private companies in the country.
He emphasized that it is time to kick start a youth campaign with the theme, “One Youth, Two Skills.”
“Let’s come out with this campaign that it is unacceptable and an injustice for a youth in this country not to have a skill, and it is going to be a project that everyone must key into,” he added.
Speaking on the ministry’s programmes for the youths, he disclosed that these will include an engagement with the Inspector General of Police to avoid a recurrence of End SARS protest in 2020, which was in reaction to police brutality of the youth, a situation which he noted is still on.
“The establishment of Nigeria Youth Academy, where youths will be trained, engagement with Borno youths, establishment of Nigerian Youth radio and television, organisation of Nigerian Youth job fair, engagement with Nigerian youths in diaspora and youth startups as well as Nigerian Youth conference where Youths who have made a major impact in their carrier will be given recognition and required to encourage others to emulate them.”
Earlier in his remarks, the Chairman, National Youth Leaders Forum of all political parties in Nigeria, commended the Minister’s commitments on the progress of Nigerian youths.
He said that the major purpose of their visit was to let the Minister know that the forum had agreed to work with the present government irrespective of their political differences.
Speaking also, the Chairman, Young Parliamentarians in the House of Representatives Ishaya Lalu, appreciated the Minister ‘s open door policy, which according to him demonstrates that he is ready to work.
He reminded the minister that he can not afford to fail, as uniting the Nigerian youth is one task that must be done.
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