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Honourable Minister of State for Youth Development, Mr. Ayodele Olawande has urged Nigerian youth to rally together to fix the nation, emphasizing that the youth have greater stakes in the country.
Olawande made this call in Abuja today when the leadership of the National Youth Leaders forum, a body made up of all youth leaders of registered political parties in Nigeria, paid him a courtesy visit.
Led by its Chairman, Ambassador Muhammed Awwal Musa, the Forum expressed its delight that a young person who can relate with the yearnings and aspirations of the youth of the country has the privilege to serve as Minister in charge of protecting the interest of Nigeria’s young people.
In his remarks, the Minister, who appreciated the party youth leaders for placing Nigeria’s interest above partisan considerations, revealed that there were ongoing plans to strengthen the Nigerian youth to ensure that they are equipped to fix the country.
Olawande, who lamented the fact that majority of the youths in the country lacked productive skills, said such a situation had given rooms for foreigners, especially from neighboring countries, to take up jobs that Nigerians would benefitted from, especially in private companies.
“This is why the Ministry of youth development is spearheading initiatives to compel every young person in the country to have at least two skills that they can market. With the tagline, “One Youth, Two Skills,” we want to emphasize that it is unacceptable and, indeed, an injustice for a youth in this country not to have a skill that he or she can deploy to earn a decent living,” the Minister said.
Speaking further on his planned programmes for the youths, Olawande disclosed the Ministry would soon roll out initiatives like Nigeria Youth Academy, a platform for youths to acquire both soft and hard skills; and be linked with potential employers; establishment of Nigerian Youth radio and television to foster deeper engagements; the national job fair for youths; youth startups competition; Youth Entrepreneurship Support Program; as well as the targeted engagement with Nigerian youths, which would kickstart in Borno.
Maryam Umar Yusuf
Head, Press and PRU
FMYD.
16th January, 2024.
