By Blessing Chinagorom
The former Presidential Candidate for Labour Party, Peter Obi has said that widespread corruption, lack of committed leadership, poor governance, lack of accountabilities and self-aggrandizement on part of leaders have continued to deny Nigerian youths the many opportunities for progress and success.
Peter Obi who made this known on X while commemorating the International Youth Day on 12th August added that unemployment of youth have continued to rise in Nigeria, and there is yet no marked improvement in the education and skill equipment of the youths.
He said average secondary school enrolment remains low at 28%, while the global average is 80% and average tertiary school enrolment remains low at 15%, while the global average is 55%, stating that this does not indicate a nation that cares for the future of its youthful population.
According to him, “We, as leaders, must now stop feasting while our hardworking youths are fasting. We must now rethink our actions and prioritize the future of our youths for the sake of our nation”.
In this commemoration of fhis national day, Peter Obi added his voice in reminding the leaders, that youths remain the bedrock of development of any country and therefore, their future must be prioritized and placed in the front row of the country’s development agenda.
He said, “For a predominantly youthful nation, investing in our youths remains critical to overcoming many of the societal challenges we face today in trying to position the nation on the path of true development”.
The former Governor disclosed that most of the raging issues like insecurity, banditry, violent agitations, and uprisings in many parts of the country are obvious results of youth neglect over the years.
“Thankfully, Nigeria is gifted with highly talented and very creative youths who are naturally hardworking and ready to make positive impacts in the nation and on the global stage”.
He maintained that the government must empower the youth through investment in the critical areas of development: education, healthcare,and pulling them out of poverty.
“Such critical investments in our youths will engender a wave of positive transformation and youth productivity which is needed to move the nation forward”.
Peter Obi encouraged Nigerian youths to sustain their hope in the nation and remain committed to its national development. “Despite these very challenging times in our nation, but we must find the strength to keep pushing.
“The task of building a New Nigeria remains our collective responsibility. Through our perseverance and commitment, the New Nigeria becomes even more POssible. Happy International Youth’s Day to all Nigerian Youths”, Peter Obi concluded.
