The Executive Director of The Just Foundation, an NGO of Al-Habibiyyah Islamic Society, Imam Fuad Adeyemi, has urged Nigerian youths to prepare to take over anti-corruption crusade by taking advantage of the numerous opportunities abound today and made possible by the digital revolution, to empower themselves.
Imam Fuad gave the charge when he flagged off the first phase of the training of youths in Abuja, a project of the Eat-Halal project, funded by the MacArthur Foundation.
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He said the youth project will empower two thousand youths, across eighth states of FCT, Lagos, Osun, Kebbi, Kaduna, Kogi, Sokoto and Enugu and these will be in phases.
He said through the theme of the youth project, “Empowering Youths with Digital Skills”, “we shall empower selected youths with digital skills, monitor and nurture them to be self-reliant for a better generation”
He told the youth that, “As the leaders of our country, you all must maximize the potentials available through the internet. Even if you do not have a laptop, you can use your phone which is today, a source of wealth, to achieve a lot and you can become a model to your peers.”
The Muslims cleric said that with the rate at which corruption has become endemic in Nigeria, it will be the youth and upcoming leaders of Nigeria who will transform this country and free the country from the shackles of corruption which is threatening to break the country.
Also, a software engineer, Mr. Umar Farouk Abdullahi, told the participants that even without a laptop, smart phones can also work and create good contents.
He urged participants to get themselves knowledgeable in skills that would enhance their profile in their chosen careers.
“What we are doing is to enlighten youths in a digital world so that they are not left behind. They should enhance their horizon, rather than wasting their time on their digital devices, meanwhile, they are revenue generating devices through legitimate means,” Abdullahi said.
He challenged the youths to take advantage of the limitless opportunities provided by the internet for good.
He said, “Globally, youths are the CEOs of tech companies because at this stage, you have the energy, creativity and time to explore.”
The 30 participants in the first phase of the training in Abuja, all opened a LinkedIn profile and began the process of opening their own websites and blogs as a first step.