Nigeria’s Minister of Youth Development, Jamila Bio-Ibrahim has called for mentorship programme for youths to enable them contribute to the development of the country
The Minister made the call in Abuja during a courtesy visit by the Association of Nigerian Taxation Students (ANTAS) and the Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria (CITN) led by the President, Mr Samuel Agbeluyi.
She said that one of the major components of society is mentorship because the young ones need guidance and direction as they strive to make a positive contribution to life.
Bio-Ibrahim who expressed her desire to see more youths, occupy positions of leadership thanked President Ahmed Tinubu for appointing youths, especially women into his cabinet and committes that will drive the economy of the nation.
Speaking on the proposed collaboration between the Ministry and ANTAS-CITN to reduce the ongoing high spate of brain drain among the youth, Dr. Bio-Ibrahim underscored the need to find an elaborate area for such collaboration.
“In a couple of weeks, we should be able to consolidate this relationship and be able to find an elaborate area for our collaboration,” she said.
The Minister expressed her gratitude for being decorated as the Technical Advisor of ANTAS by its president, Mr. Opeyemi Babatunde.
“Thank you for choosing me to be an advisor. It is a privilege that I am not taking for granted. I am ready for whatever it takes for me to be part of the process as long as my schedule permits,” she added.
Earlier, leader of the delegation, the 16th President of CITN, Mr. Samuel Agbeluyi, in his remarks, said that the youths are inspired when they see a youth leader that they can relate with.
He disclosed that the Institute trains the young ones to be confident by giving them the opportunity to speak for themselves adding that with the efforts of the Institute, the nation has 32 tertiary institutions that are offering taxation as a main course at various levels such as ND, HND, BSC, Masters, and PhD.
“It shows the imperative of taxation and that we need the manpower who can actually handle things either as revenue officers, tax participants, and even as taxpayers.” He said.
For his part, the Chairman CITN committee on student affairs and tertiary education relations, Abiola Adimula stated that the association has three proposed areas of collaboration and partnership with the Ministry, amongst which is a high level stakeholders roundtable meeting tagged, “Youth Convening: Exploring opportunities for youth empowerment in Nigeria towards diminishing JAPA syndrome” whereby relevant stakeholders will be invited to discuss plans and opportunities available to the youth, to reduce the high spate of ongoing brain drain in the country.
Adimula further stated that ANTAS-CITN through its network can facilitate the presentation of the Ministry’s activities at its United Nations Headquarters to open up better visibility and partnership with UN international agencies and other funding organisations.
The President of ANTAS, Mr. Opeyemi Babatunde later decorated the Minister as the Technical Advisor of the association, which, according to him, was based on the constitutional provisions of the association.
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