The President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), has described Nigerian youths as the country’s most strategic asset.
Buhari said this during the National Youth Conference tagged, ‘Energizing the Youth for Development: Inclusiveness, Governance, Security, and Employment’, which held at Abuja on Monday.
Represented by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, Buhari stated that young Nigerians are currently at the frontlines of every consequential struggle for our future.
This was contained in a statement released by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Laolu Akande, on Monday.
Buhari noted that young Nigerians are breaking new grounds, breaking records and winning laurels, even in the diaspora.
He said, “We are home to celebrated and award-winning writers from Chimamanda Adichie to hundreds of younger Nigerian writers. In one Grammy award ceremony, two Nigerian musicians, Burna Boy and Wizkid won awards.
“Our sportsmen and women are breaking records and winning medals. The likes of Ese Brume, Tobi Amusan, Enoch Adegoke, and Blessing Oborududu. These are all young Nigerians doing great things in sports.”
The President also hailed youths in technology, education, e-commerce, social enterpreneurship and other aspects of the economy.
He continued, “We recognize that our young people are this country’s most strategic asset. Investing in them is clearly investing in the economic strength and development of our nation.
“This is why my administration has established initiatives such as the N75 billion National Youth Investment Fund and the Central Bank of Nigeria’s Creative Sector Fund.
“It is why I recently approved the investing in Digital and Creative Enterprises (i-DICE) programme – an over $600million programme supported by the AfDB which will support young tech and creative sector entrepreneurs through the provision of finance for training for their businesses, finance for skills development and finance for infrastructure.”
Buhari also mentioned the Jubilee Fellows Internship programme and N-Power as some of its schemes geared towards youth support.
He stated that Nigerians must, most importantly, maintain faith in the country and remain optimistic that the country will fulfill its aspiration.
