President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has charged Nigerian youths to contribute to nation building through active civic engagement.
The President spoke during a Federal Government youth engagement programme for secondary school students tagged “The Next Generation Project” in Umuahia, Abia State.
He described active civic engagement as the path to effective nation building.
Speaking through his Senior Special Assistant on Citizenship and Leadership, Miss Rinsola Aandbiola, the President said he was committed to youth empowerment capacity building.
Tinubu expressed determination to provide platforms that would provide resources aimed at nurturing the potentials of Nigerian youths and steering them in the right direction.
“We have to support them with the resources they need to develop into model citizens who positively impact their communities and grow academically and professionally with the right value system and personality traits.”
On her own, the Presidential Aide said: “My office has the mandate to promote civic education and youth leadership development.
“We have partnered the National Orientation Agency on this initiative, which we have tagged the ‘Next Generation Project’.
“As the name implies, the aim of the project is to offer mentorship and leadership development opportunities to young people in the next generation.
“This engagement here in Umuahia is the first one taking place in Southern Nigeria.
“This event underscores the commitment of President Tinubu to the empowerment of youths in the South East.”
She urged young people to take democracy and nation building very seriously, adding that leadership plays a key role in the future of any country.
Abiola called on youths to fulfill civic obligations like voting, participate in community development efforts and other beneficial activities.
She also urged youths to consider careers in politics and public service as it remains a highly effective way to contribute to building the future of their dreams.
The Presidential Aide commended Abia State Government for its commitment to youth development.
In his speech, the Director General NOA), Mr. Lanre Issa-Onilu, urged youths to cultivate the character that would enable them build lasting prosperity through legitimate ventures.
Issa-Onilu, represented by the State Director of NOA, Mrs Regina Iroha, said that the nation’s prosperity remained dependent on its economic success, as well as the values and attitudes of its citizens.
In his own address, the Executive Chairman of Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mr. Olanipekun Olukoyede, said that rate at which youths engaged in cybercrime was alarming.
Olukoyede, represented by a senior official of the Commission, Miss Theresa Nwosu, urged youths to desist from engaging in cyber crime because of its destructive impact on the society.
“Cybercrime is a plague that is destroying the fabric of our society and this one thing that agency is dealing with seriously,”he said.
In a remark, the Deputy State Coordinator of National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, Mrs Anu Maurice, expressed dismay over the spate of drug abuse among youths.
“There is no excuse good enough for one to engage in drug and substance abuse”, she said.
Some of the students – Master Allwell Jamin, Miss Confidence Kelechukwu and Miss Comforter Chikezie – expressed delight over the engagement and urged Government to hold it more regularly.
VANGUARD
