“AN EMPOWERED YOUTH IS THE FUTURE OF NIGERIA”-By Abdullahi Kabir Faskari

“AN EMPOWERED YOUTH IS THE FUTURE OF NIGERIA”. The Nigerian society is highly heterogeneous and this makes it extremely complex. It`s complex diversity sometimes makes it difficult for us to hold ourselves together as a united whole. Forging a sense of national cohesion is the responsibility of all citizens both home and abroad and it requires deliberate decisive policies that would engender a high sense of national pride and patriotism.

We need deliberate policies which will ensure the holistic empowerment of all young persons to develop a strong community and nation. We need youths who are highly educated and enlightened to play key roles to build the Nigeria of our dream. We need to develop a critical mass of youths who would cultivate the absolute dedication and allegiance to Nigeria regardless of one`s ethnicity, religion or social class.

The authorities of our nation must be firm in dealing with acts that seek to undermine the country`s unity and stability so that citizens could feel safe and secured in the jurisdiction. There must be equality, the rule of law and the impartial application of the law, freedom, justice, fair play across facets of our social life.

All these challenges are temporal and surmountable if we the young Nigerians can re-orient our attitude and confront it frontally in unison recognizing that we are the future of Nigeria and therefore have the singular responsibility of righting the ills of our nation now before it degenerates to a failed state.
The time to act is now my fellow Nigerian youths. Let me send a clear message to compatriots that it is time for us to reform our society for the better. We must change Nigeria because we are the change Nigeria has been waiting for therefore we cannot afford to fail Nigeria. I have an abiding faith in the capacity of the youths of Nigeria to cause the reforms necessary for the development of our nation.

The Nigerian youths unfortunately is viewed wrongly or rightly so by the world as synonymous with oil bunker, kidnapping of folks for ransom, cyber crimes(yahoo yahoo), and other nefarious activities with serious implications for the security of the country, the West African sub-region and beyond. Diametrically opposed to this unfortunate label, are the millions of brilliant young Nigerians with the proven capacity for excellence in all endeavors of life, academia, politics, engineering, medicine etc.
Nigeria has a peculiar situation and therefore , I am mindful of the Nigerian context. Our problem lies in the inability of many of my country folks to recognize the potentials in our youths knowing fully well that no nation can survive without investing fully in their youths because the youths are the bedrock of any nation.

While I used this medium to commend the efforts of His Excellency Rt. Hon Aminu Bello masari for his immense support towards youth development in katsina state and participation in government to make another round of history. I also appreciate the efforts of Katsina state Government entirely and commend them on this giant stride. Most importantly, to the youths that happens to made it,you must not forget the reason of being there.

Finally, i must also take my time to address the key issues that affect the youths directly or indirectly such as:
1. Youth inclusion in political participation
2. Youth entrepreneurship Development
3. Active implementation of the National Youth Policy.
4. Quality and functional education for all youths.