A former minister of Sports and one-time national spokesperson of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, has tasked Nigerian youths to embrace good leadership quality because of their importance in rebuilding the nation.
Speaking at the 2019 Citizens Conference organised by the Millennials Active Citizenship Advocacy Africa Network (MACAA) held at University of Ilorin Auditorium at the weekend, he said this become necessary for them to be able to contribute meaningfully towards nation building and development.
Abdullahi revealed that some people in government don’t know what to do and lack competence to deliver good governance to the citizenry.
While expressing optimism that the youths can bring positive changes, he affirmed that they are the only set of people who can rebuild Nigeria.
He then urged the youth to equip themselves with requisite skills, knowledge and experience to lead the country.
Also speaking, a former Presidential Candidate of Abundant National Renewal Party (ANRP), Tope Fasua, tasked the youths to think outside the box and proffer solutions to problems facing Nigeria.
Fasua noted that the innovation of Mark Zuckerberg of Facebook, Bill Gate, Steve Jobs among others created solutions for the world adding that they are now making billions of dollars from it.
He also called on the government to give students small jobs such as in road construction, painting of building and so on to empower them as well as expose them to real field experience.
In his remarks, the Co-founder of MACAA and Convener of the Citizens Conference, Seun Awogbenle, said this year’s conference has provided a policy roadmap for a strong, viable, vibrant and resilient economy that provides jobs, reduce poverty, provide opportunities for the realization of dreams and optimize her huge reservoir of skills.
He noted that the 2019 edition also explored the imperatives of economic growth for the future of a great Nigeria.
“In fact, it has come at a time when hunger, poverty, diseases, deprivation, unemployment, inequality, despair and opportunity gap is rife. As a result, young people believe that the country is rigged against them and are sad that the country has failed them.
“But today, we have inspired hope, renewed our collective faith, trust and confidence in that the possibilities of Nigeria’s prosperity can be a reality in our lifetime,” he said.
