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isolate confab from partisanship, bureaucracy, poor funding – Itodo
From Juliana Taiwo-Obalonye, Abuja
President Bola Tinubu in a heartfelt address during the inauguration of the planning committee for the National Youth Conference, emphasised the importance of youth participation in shaping Nigeria’s future.
He encouraged participants in the confab to openly express their opinions and critiques, promising to implement their recommendations suggestions for the country’s prosperity.
“Look at me in the face, tell me whatever you think, if it’s wrong and the way it’s done or suggestions, we will try to implement all of it as long as it is for the prosperity of this country,” he said.
The initiative aims to tackle youth unemployment, education reform, and political participation. As the president is pledging real implementation, the young Nigerians demand action, not just promises.
He highlighted the critical role youths play in nation-building, noting that they constitute over 60% of the population and are the heartbeat of the nation. Tinubu expressed his desire to clear the path for youths to contribute effectively, leveraging technology and addressing key issues like food sovereignty and family conditions.
His remarks align with his broader strategy to empower Nigerian youths, as outlined in his Independence Day speech, where he announced a 30-day National Youth Conference to tackle challenges such as education, employment, and social justice. This initiative reflects his administration’s focus on youth-centric policies and programs aimed at fostering a more inclusive and prosperous Nigeria.
Tinubu underscored the pivotal role of young Nigerians in shaping the nation’s future. He extensively emphasized his administration’s commitment to empowering the youth and fostering national development.
“I have listened to you,” he said, adding, “You are the hope of this country; everything ends in your podium. Every decision that I have taken is about you, about tomorrow.”
He highlighted the removal of oil subsidies as a tough but necessary decision aimed at securing a sustainable future for generations yet unborn. “Where is the investment? Where is the infrastructure?” he asked rhetorically, stressing that creating opportunities at home would reduce the trend of migration among young professionals, popularly referred to as “JAPA.”
The president urged the youth to take ownership of Nigeria’s development. “This is your home to develop, build, and be prosperous,” he said. While acknowledging frustrations with politicians, Tinubu reminded them that “politics is about development and about the future generation.”
Reflecting on economic challenges, Tinubu expressed optimism about progress. “When we started, it was like drawing water from a dry well. But today, the economy is turning the corner. Prices are falling, confidence in our economy is improving, and investors are looking in,” he remarked.
He encouraged young Nigerians to seize opportunities presented by advancements in technology and an improving economic landscape.
In closing, Tinubu inaugurated the committee with a charge to embrace technology and work towards food sovereignty and youth empowerment. “You represent over 60 percent of our population; you are the heartbeat of our nation,” he declared. With a touch of humor, he added, “I can’t be youth again—maybe in the next life—but I am envious of all of you.”
Samson Itodo, a renowned advocate for youth inclusion in politics and founder of Yiaga Africa, who spoke on behalf of the committee, hailed the confab as the most significant in recent times, expressing his gratitude to President inubu for this initiative.
“It is a demonstration of your commitment to not just youth development, but also citizen engagement and inclusive governance,” Itodo said.
He praised the President for appointing young individuals to public offices, including a Minister of Youth, noting, “This is the first time a president has appointed a young person as a minister of youth. You have shown that young people are more than just media aids by appointing them as special advisers.”
He said the conference will focus on six key areas: political governance, economic transformation, education and skills, technology and digital transformation, climate change and energy transition, and social cohesion and security. Itodo highlighted the importance of these themes, stating, “We believe that this conference will provide an opportunity to reimagine our education system and make it meet the demands of the 21st century.”
To ensure the conference’s success, Itodo emphasized the need for adequate funding and insulation from bureaucratic bottlenecks. He also stressed that the initiative must remain non-partisan to maintain its legitimacy and impact.
“We pledge to continue contributing our intellect, experience, and technical resources to produce visionary outcomes,” he said.
“We trust that post-conference, the President will take bold actions to implement some of the recommendations”, Itodo concluded.