Chinonso Obasi
President, Nigerian Youth Union
Gentlemen of the Press.
I am delighted to address you this morning as our beloved country commemorates her 64th Independence anniversary.
In the words of Eleanor Roosevelt, “The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams”
The above statement reminds us of the need to have dreams, find purpose, and remain focused in pursuit of dreams.
As Nigeria marks her Independence anniversary today, the question that pops into the mind of most Nigerian Youths is, can I still achieve my dreams in Nigeria, what does the future hold for me in Nigeria?
Ranging from Education, Economy, Security, and Youth Empowerment, there is no indicator that at 64, our leaders had created a guaranteed future for every Nigerian Youth.
The present administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is one seen by many Nigerian Youths as a disaster and a threat to their future.
We are concerned with the increasing level of hopelessness and the lack of an enabling environment to excel as a youth in present-day Nigeria.
A youth surviving in Nigeria today ironically is like a camel passing through the needle’s eye.
ECONOMY
Every country in the world experiences an economic meltdown but with a clear view of an exit plan.
The Nigerian economy is unarguably in that phase but without any hope or clear measures to get better.
The use of palliatives to cushion the effect of a bad economy has become the only measure thus far. Unfortunately, this palliative only gets to those who see wrong and say no wrong.
EDUCATION
While we thank President Tinubu for the novel Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND), it becomes imperative to remind Mr. President that five hundred thousand naira (N500,000) loan to students in an economy where a liter of Premium Motor Spirit(PMS) is over one thousand five hundred naira(N1,500) in some parts of Nigeria, Universities raising tuition fee to over four hundred thousand(N400,000), students hall of residence being a death trap and lack of job opportunities upon graduation, all of these make a mess of the good intention of the NELFUND
SECURITY
The only secure people in Nigeria today are the Politicians who can afford to pay Nigerian Security agents or private security to guide them. The state of Nigerian Youths is this bad that the security of lives and property meant to be a constitutional right of citizens has become a privilege to Citizens and a secondary duty of the Government.
Nigerian Youths cannot travel freely and willingly without making a special budget for exigencies like payment of ransom if kidnapped and other related terror on the road.
Most insecurity that exists in Nigeria is politically motivated. For instance, in Zamfara State, the high deposit of gold is the major cause of insecurity through the activities of economic saboteurs.
Likewise in Imo state, more than 50% of gas deposits in Nigeria are found there and the economic sabotage of this resource is the major cause of insecurity in that state.
The porosity in our borders along the Northern part of Nigeria notably is the major cause of insecurity in that region.
The kidnappers are just Nigerian youths who were armed during the elections and after the election, the politicians failed to deliver their promises to them and also failed to retrieve the arms given to them during the election and in turn resorted to self-help through crimes and other social vices.
All these crimes are controllable and avoidable by the Government if the political class is not benefiting from the wroth, but, they’re the major benefactor.
YOUTH EMPOWERMENT
Under President Tinubu, we have not experienced any transformative youth empowerment. The stipends given as palliative are perceived as an intentionally calculated measure to mortgage the future of the Youths.
The only way to empower the greater majority of Nigerian youths is by creating an enabling environment for everyone to strive. Revive the moribund companies like Ajaokuta Steel Company Kogi State, Nigeria refineries, Nigeria Cement Company Nkalagu Ebonyi State, Nigeria textile companies, etc.
On behalf of Nigerian Youths, we thank the President for the appointment of young people to some government positions.
However, we frown at the constant use of youth-based positions to settle political stakeholders and actors.
Contrarily, in appointing youths into positions of power, Sort for the best through resume, antecedence in leadership, and academic performance.
This claim is evident in the poor performance of some Youth appointees who cannot give what they don’t have.
On 9th February 2024, we called on the President to quicken the establishment of mining Marshalls to stop illegal mining in the country and today that has been achieved and we do hope this is going to create employment and protection for our solid minerals.
The Chairman House Committee on Solid Mineral Jonathan Gbefwi acknowledged that Nigeria loses about $9 billion yearly on illegal mining.
Going forward, we have mapped out solutions to some of the challenges bedeviling Nigerian Youths, and in the coming days, we shall visit relevant stakeholders in pressing home those solutions.