Yemisi Izuora
The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Bullion Go-Neat Global Limited, Ambassador Olufemi Ajadi Oguntoyinbo, has restated the imperatives of government empowering Nigerian youths.
Speaking during an interactive session with Commerce & Industry Correspondents Association of Nigeria (CICAN) delegation, in his office yesterday, Ambassador Ajadi stated that Nigerian youths like their counterparts all over the world, have huge potentials waiting to be harnessed
He said the necessity of harnessing and unleashing such potential included increased productivity, value addition, inclusion of the younger generation in the act of governance as well as reduction in crime.
Lamenting the economic pressures that Nigerians have pushed to in the last few months, he said it has become urgent for the government to do something.
Ambassador Ajadi observed that prices of things have skyrocketed in the last few months, whereas salaries have remained stagnant, warning that that was not good for an economy with huge youth population.
Ajadi, a chieftain of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) in Ogun State, indeed its flag bearer in the last general election, summed his urgent call on the federal government to:
i. Rise up to your duties of helping to make life more meaningful generally for Nigerians
ii. Create more employment opportunities and ensure that Nigerian youths are meaningfully engaged after school.
iii. Boost production activities through key inentives for employers of labour
iv. Help to crash prices of essential items in the market so that the commonman can convenitately feed his household
Ambassador Ajadi described Nigerian youths as filled with energy, saying such should be harnessed for for improved agricultural that could translate to industrial revolution..
“Government can harness local potentials by setting up and equipping farm settlements and agriculture production centres at selected locations nationwide.
“It can motivate youths to take up the initiative by supporting them with take off funds which should be closely monitored and supervised”, he said.
He also suggested that technical colleges and polytechnics should be made really practical oriented and equipped to be able to be able to fabricate machines for local production, adding that such institutions could be made industrial starter points.
“I believe that we can better harness the potential of Nigerian youths, which include their population and energy.
“The government can make budgetary provisions through the relevant agencies for radical change that would engage youths selected from the senatorial zones or wards of the country, for productive agriculture.
“it is something that would keep many youths economically engaged, and eventually led to improved agricultural output”, he stated.