The Minister of Youth Development, Dr Jamila Bio Ibrahim has urged the federal government to give Nigerian youths the “actual power” to participate in decision making in the country.
Jamila made this appeal at the weekend in Abuja while receiving a team of delegates from the National Institute of Policy and Strategic Studies(NIPSS), Kuru, Jos who paid her a courtesy visit in her office.
Jamila, who stressed the importance of involving the youths in decision making in the country, explained that this goes beyond just empowering them to take charge of their lives and improve their access to resources.
According to the minister, this will enhance rapid development both in policy making and financial autonomy for nation building.
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As an immediate response to this agenda, the minister said that in line with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s eight point agenda, which includes youth development, the ministry of youth development has made a strong case for a 30% inclusion of youth in both policy and cabinet formation at all tiers of government.
In his remarks, the Director General of the Institute, Professor Ayo Omotayo who led the team disclosed that series of research carried out by the Institute on Nigerian youths revealed that nobody knows what the youths really want.
According to him, the Institute is proposing a national conference where the youth will be asked what they want and what exactly the country can do for them.
Omotayo expressed worries that Nigerian youth, being 60% of the population are not part of policy making in the country.
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