Tuesday, August 12, 2014

Ex-President Obasanjo tasks govts on youth empowerment





A former Nigerian president, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, has said the various tiers of governments in the country should empower the youth for national development.

He said this on Tuesday shortly after a 2km health walk to mark this year’s International  Youth Day with the theme: ‘Youth and Mental Health,’ organised by the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library Youth Centre in Abeokuta, Ogun State.

In order to achieve national development, he  emphasised the need for the training, empowerment as well as employment of the youth.

He said, “Any nation that fails to prioritise the training and employment of its youths should be ready to battle challenges.”

He advised the  youth to embrace peace and contribute their quota towards national development.

Obasanjo said, “People say that youths are the hope of the future, but it is more than that.

“Youths are the hold of the future. Youths are the stability of the future. In fact youths are the future itself.

“So when we talk about the youth, we talk about the future and the future of any nation or community which jokes with its future is doomed.”

Obasanjo said he was concerned that there was no youth centre in Abeokuta and he has started the construction of one.

He added, “One of the things I found lacking in this beautiful and historic city (Abeokuta) is that there is no place where youths can gather to relax, talk, debate and dialogue about the future either individually or collectively.

“So I am building the youth centre so that they can relax there and discuss important issues instead of engaging their strength and time in frivolities.” 

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