The Presidential Candidate of Labour Party, Mr Peter Obi, has reiterated his commitment to building a productive nation anchored on youth development, saying that their youthful energy, skills and potentials were critical ingredients needed to move the nation from consumption to production.
Obi revealed this steadfast commitment in his International Youth Day Message. He stated that the dream of rescuing the country from leadership failure would not come to fruition without the help of the youths whose future, he said, was being damaged by bad governance in the country.
“Everywhere you go in the world, the youths have always championed paradigm shifts in society. The political awakening you notice among Nigerian youths today signifies the hunger and desire in them for a better nation that represents their interests,” Obi said Friday in a statement from his media office.
The former Anambra State Governor lamented the myriads of challenges facing Nigerian youths, as exemplified by high rate of youth unemployment; little or no access to funding for small businesses; lack of good education, as testified to by the incessant industrial actions that have enveloped Nigeria’s public universities, among others, as factors militating against the success of the youths.
He argued that such neglect of youth development was currently contributing to the nation’s woes by way of rising insecurity and violence, very unproductive workforce and unmatched level of drug abuse which was currently prevalent in the country. He expressed hope in the new Nigeria where people’s talents and skills would match their opportunities in life.
“I have always maintained that the society we abuse today will take its revenge on us tomorrow. One cannot expect peace and progress in a nation where more than half of the large youth population do not know where their next meal will come from. Our students have been at home for over five months due to the ASUU Strike. That is not the kind of future we want to build for our young people,” Obi submitted.
He urged the government to build a nation that inspires hope in its citizens, especially the youths. He maintained that if the government continues to pay deaf ear to the yearnings of its youthful population, Nigeria would continue to foot-drag its way to growth and development.
While wishing Nigerian youths well on the occasion of their International Youth Day Celebration, Obi encouraged them to remain of good character and conduct, while contributing their quota to the growth of the country.
The International Youth Day is celebrated globally on August 12 every year.