The NCC boss noted that the greatest opportunity to contribute to national leadership is for the youths to participate in politics and influence the leadership of the country to fast- track the nation’s national development .

Professor Akande, who gave the counsel at the weekend  spoke as Guest Speaker at the 53rd Convention of Junior Chambers International ,Ibadan chapter.

The Don, who delivered the keynote address entitled “Nigerian Development Dilemma:The role of the youths”, explained that the youths constitute over 70 percent of Nigeria’s population and therefore constitutes a major bloc that could guarantee the devepment of Nigeria.

“The country will be blessed if  a substantial part of her  population contributes to her development. With over 70 percent of the Nigerian population as youths, the Nigerian youth are well placed to make such contribution”, he submitted.

He stressed  that the youths constitute the biggest labour force the country has and the biggest agents of change.

“The youths therefore have many channels through which they can contribute to national development”.

The NCC gaffer  singled  out political participation as one of the greatest channels through which Nigerian youths can make their contribution to national development. “It is through the political process you can make the most impactful contribution to national development.

” You can achieve this through standing for election to provide political leadership,actively participate in the political parties to ensure they produce qualified and reliable persons as candidates, mobilise voters to vote for responsible people and also going out en masse on   election days to vote for dependable people at the elctions. We also have a civic responsibility to put our governments under watch and ensure they live up to our expectation in  their performance”.

He lauded President Muhammadu Buahari for enacting the ‘Not too young to run act ‘ that expands the oppurtunities for Nigerian youths to participate more actively in politics,urging the youths to take advantage of the law.

“It is true that there are challenges hindering the participation of Nigerian youths in politics. However, we cannot continue to agonise. Instead,we should organize  to take advantage of our huge population and dynamism as youths to be part of the decision making in the country”, Akande urged.

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I took the mic to address them and announced the winners and suddenly, this guy came up to me. I saw his very menacing look and I braced myself. He shouted at me to give him money. The moment he opened his mouth, I knew he was high on drugs. His tongue was blue. I ignored him but he followed me right to my car. We zoomed off.

Later that day, I learnt he became very aggressive and jumped on a moving vehicle carrying my team. He scratched the vehicle with a stone- making all sorts of markings on the vehicle. I wanted to take the matter up but the Students Union Government of the campus intervened and pleaded. Turned out the guy was expelled for substance abuse.

Sometimes back, I was at a seminar for young people where I spoke to them about the dangers of substance abuse. As I went round the hall, someone squeezed a tiny paper into my hand. I looked at the paper and it was a cry for help. The young man who sent that paper attends a private university but is hooked on drugs. He wrote that it was his room mate that introduced him to the habit. His parents didn’t even know and he follows them to church regularly.

Last night, Colorado trended on Twitter. I followed the trend and I came off depressed. This new drug messes up the minds of those who take it. I saw videos of people who became disoriented moments after taking the drug. Some were screaming, others were convulsing or shaking as if possessed by an external force. They kept slapping a guy in one of the videos while another guy kept drinking water. One particular girl’s case was pathetic as she rolled on the floor. I’m sorry but I can’t share any of the videos. They are painful to watch.

Someone told me yesterday about a guy who took one of those drugs and lapsed into coma for 3 days. When he didn’t wake up, he was buried. A lot of the guys who ride okada sniff gum- a cheap drug that makes them drive recklessly. People have died cheaply because of okada drivers who sniffed glue before a ride.

Everywhere you turn to, you see young men and women looking for a high. Visit an average lounge and observe how drugs are passed around. Some clutch bottles of soda everywhere they go. Don’t be deceived- the soda is laced with a drug.

I had to check out of a hotel sometimes last year because a guy was smoking weed next to my room. When I complained, the Manager said they had been warning the guy since the day before. There are no reliable statistics but I’ve seen as many ladies as guys who are involved in the habit.

We really have a very big problem with substance abuse and we are playing the ostrich. Ten years down the line, we would have come full circle with junkies everywhere and crime skyrocketing if we don’t start to tackle it now. We need more rehabilitation centres and government has to commit more resources to enlightening its citizens on the danger of substance abuse. NDLEA has to be more proactive than reactive and change its strategy for combating the menace. Religious centres have to get involved. Parents have to educate their children.

We can’t fold our hands again. I’m really afraid for the future.

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A statement released Friday night by the group’s Public Relations Officer, Oluwatosin Akinbulumo and signed by the Coordinator, Mr. Jonathan Obatola berates the unfortunate incidence which claimed the life of Mrs Olakunrin, a 58yrs old lawyer and banker who was on her way to Lagos from visiting her aged father, Pa Reuben Fasoranti  at Àkúrẹ́.

“The leadership and members of Ondo State Youth Network (OSYN) condole with the Fasoranti’s family on this very unfortunate incidence which claimed the life of Pa. Reuben’s second child earlier today. Our hearts are broken with pain at the senseless murder of another shinning light.”

“Families are now made to mourn their loved ones, parents scared to travel on our roads while our children live in great fear. This is unacceptable as there is a need for the Government and all security forces to find a drastic and lasting solution to this ugly development.”

The youth group also called on leaders of the Yoruba Nation, Southwest Governors and all concerned authorities to rise up to the occasion and find a lasting solution to this frequent maiming and killing of innocent Yoruba people, else there would soon be no one left to be identified with the race of over 60million people.

“This is one death too many and we have had just enough of this calamity befalling our land. We can’t tolerate this anymore, we will communicate with other Youth Groups across the six South-West states and in a bid to proffer lasting solution from our own end as youths.”

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Youths over Africa vehemently complain and protest against lack of unemployment, considering ‘white colour jobs’ and ‘blue colour jobs’ as the only jobs in Africa. Trend in agricultural activity inclusion has focused on rural inhabitants with older folks dominating in many countries across the continent, denoting that the younger folks in these rural areas, together with people from the urban centers are not quite interested in this sector. It is no surprise that even the unemployed who are surrounded with agricultural opportunities refuse to see them, even if they do, they are reluctant or do not take advantage of them.

Most youths, when asked to campaign for agriculture or raise a voice to agriculture will not hesitate to do it, but when asked to engage in farming, they will definitely not hesitate to say no. Same analogy applies to most agricultural students, if you ask them about their ambition, they may mention International Agricultural Scientist, a Researcher, an Agricultural Officer, a Banker or a Government Servant, a handful will dare say they want to be farmers.

Several documentations and reports indicate reasons for lack of interest on the part of the youths in Africa, including the unemployed ones.

The youth has it that, Agriculture takes much time and efforts which doesn’t even guarantee absolute success. The Contemporary youth craves for quick money within the shortest possible time, if possible, without much hardwork, and since agriculture is not a one day business and also involves a lot of hardwork and dedication, they tend to lose interest in it.

Agriculture is perceived by most youths as socially non-prestigious. The graduated youth would rather chase eagerly after ‘white and blue colour jobs’ than to work on a farm. Societal stereotype and perceived inferiority complex of agriculture makes it difficult for even parents to encourage their children, in case they decide to venture into agriculture or farming as a career option.

There is not enough exposure of contemporary youths, especially those at the urban areas to agricultural activities. Since urban areas are industrialized and developed, lands there are usually used for building companies, households and other infrastructures rather than reserved for large scale farming. Family lands which could otherwise be used for farming will rather be sold out to be used for building and other activities. Because youths are concentrated in the urban centers, they get a little or no exposure in the field of agriculture, hence lack the skills and motivation to go into that field.

Agricultural activities seem uncomfortable and unsafe to the youth. People who are dedicated to agriculture are perceived to go through a lot of things, ranging from stress associated with work to unproductivity due to infestations. Youths usually want to look their best and have a comfortable work condition, and because starting to farm involves digging, tilling lands, watering, removing weeds, burning, and maybe encountering snakes, scorpions, and other earth creatures, they would rather remain at home than to join the farming train.

The evolved African educational curricula fail to include material agriculture. Some schools teach agriculture but mostly the soft aspect of it, with a little or no practical session. This generally affects the interest buildup of youths towards the agriculture.

We as African youths have however been continuously sensitized in the past few years about the need to venture into agriculture as a career choice. Several campaigns have been launched by some youth advocates in various countries within Africa to create a sense of inclusion for youths and to change the dominant stereotype and preconceptions towards agriculture as a career choice.

The post Champoining the Cause: Youths in Agriculture first appeared on MegaIcon Magazine.

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The Commissioner who gave this charge during a workshop organized by Faculty of Engineering, the Ibarapa Polytechnic, Eruwa titled ‘Creativity, Innovation and Entrepreneurship for national development’, noted that all the technological innovations especially the ones from Asian countries are discovered through reverse engineering.

He added that Nigerian youths can achieve similar feat through accessing libraries or internet to get directory on these technological innovations instead of diverting the energy on illicit businesses online.

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According to him, “Youths that engage in illicit use of internet (Yahoo Yahoo) don’t need it. There are profitable businesses they can use internet for. Take for an example, Alibaba of China came up with innovation of standing as intermediary between sellers and buyers online and he is making fortune today.

“We must start engaging ourselves in innovative thinking to promote entrepreneurship and engender economic development.

“What we are saying is that knowledge has been existing while innovative ideas abound on internet but the question is; how do we put this knowledge into use? For example, policeman standing on highway passing vehicles is waste of time when there are traffic indicators available and manufactured by our polytechnics. The police rather need to be in their respective offices to engage themselves in better works and if as a country, we can’t improve beyond this level, it is very disheartening”, Olowofela submitted.

Also speaking at the event, the Rector of the Polytechnic, Dr. Iyiola Eyitayo said innovation is the introduction of something new or new ideas or methods, while entrepreneurship is the art of translating creativity and innovation into money making ventures.

Eyitayo informed that the discussions at the conference would generate a far reaching and globally acceptable submission which would definitely lead to national development.

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Parents were also urged to check their young ones by examining their mood changes, as parental influence matters in checking this ugly trend.

Making the call at the inauguration of the newly elected executives of the National Parent-Teacher Association of Nigeria (NAPTAN), Oyo state chapter on Thursday held at Lagelu Grammar School, Ibadan, the state Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Prof. Adeniyi Olowofela who raised alarm over the increasing number of Nigerian youths abusing drugs, also noted that the societal menace remained a major health problem globally as many Nigerian youth experiment with drugs at one point or the other.

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“I want to admonish all parents that we should guide our children jealously, especially on the use of hard drugs. I am imploring NAPTAN to play meaningful roles in separating the youths from drugs”, the commissioner urged.

Prof. Olowofela added that youths had found a new past time in the consumption of hard drugs, cautioned them of the momentous negative health and social repercussions of drug addiction.

Congratulating the executives, Olowofela, however charged them to put in their best as much as possible towards reinvigorating the association.

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DAILY POST recalls that while speaking at the Commonwealth Business Forum in Westminster penultimate week, President Buhari remarked that a lot of Nigerian youths were lazy and waiting on just government.

“More than 60 percent of the population is below 30, a lot of them haven’t been to school and they are claiming that Nigeria has been an oil producing country, therefore, they should sit and do nothing, and get housing, healthcare, education free,” he said.

Even though the comment was interpreted as a dismissal of the work ethic of most Nigerian youths and drew criticism from political opponents and the public, the president had never directly explained his remarks.

However, while speaking during an interview with Voice of America, Hausa service, in Washington, United States on Tuesday, the President said his words were misinterpreted by the media who love to do what they like.

He explained, “You know Nigeria’s population is now between 180 and 190 million and 60 per cent of this population is youth that is 30 years downward.

“You know in the North most youths are uneducated or school dropouts. If not because we had good harvests in the last two farming seasons, the situation would have been deteriorated.

“These youths even if they travel out of the North for greener pasture ,they hardly make it economically because what they earn as income cannot afford them to meet their basic needs or return home.

“All these explanations I made, they refused to highlight them in their report and you know the media in Nigeria in most cases only do what they like.

“For instance the nation’s achievements in the agricultural sector where millions of Nigerians benefited financially were left unreported by the media.”

President Buhari is currently on a working visit to overseas where he has met his US counterpart, President Donald Trump, at the White House.

https://iso.keq.mybluehost.me/atiku-counsels-youths-on-mentoring/

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He spoke as a special guest of honour at a symposium tagged “The Man Atiku’’ organised by Turaki Youth Ambassadors (TURAYA) on Saturday in Abuja.

The Vice President from 1999 ft0 2007 on the platform of PDP, identified poor quality of education as one of the factors affecting youths’ participation in high quality politics in Nigeria.

The presidential aspirant who defected from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to his former PDP again, was represented by the Chairman, All Atiku, Support Group, Mr Oladimeji Fabiyi, at the Symposium with the topic “Politics qua politic: Atiku Abubakar, the Youths and the Nigerian state’’.

Abubakar said that in developed countries, young people who had the potential of being politicians were identified in schools and exposed to political activities along their academic programmes.

“By the time they graduate from school they have mastered the political terrains of their countries. They also try to empower themselves before going full blast into politics.’’

Abubakar, however, said that in Nigeria, a large chunk of youths get involved in politics by accident, adding that they ventured into politics because politics was seen as a quick way to make money.

He said that a lot of them crashed in and crashed out of politics because they failed to achieve their targets within a short period.

“I have come to realise that the damage that poor quality of education has done to Nigerian youths.

“This is a matter that has to be addressed to raise high number of intellectually sound youths to play high quality politics.

“They also need exposure and financial empowerment in their quest to wrestle power from the older generation who have mastered the game over time.

“Remember, the older generation of Nigerian politicians ventured into politics when they were young and since politics is addictive it is not usually easy to quit.

“The reality is that young persons must work hard and should device superior arguments and strategies to send the older generation into retirement and to achieve their political targets,’’ Abubakar said.

He noted that a lot of mentorship is required in the country’s clime to come out of smoky political terrain.

“I did mine with the late Shehu Yar’Adua just as am impacting my knowledge, skills and experience on young persons I come across.’’

He advised Nigerian youths interested in politics to subject themselves to mentorship.

Earlier, the president TURAYA, Mr Ayo Akinrimisi, said that Abubakar has paid his dues to be the next president of Nigeria, saying he has empowered many Nigerian youths.

He pledged that TURAYA formed in 2003 would work with over 500 support groups now working and other available groups to elect Abubakar in 2019. (NAN)

Election: How Billions Of Naira Were Moved To Jonathan’s Residence

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The new party, led by 27-year old activist and entrepreneur, Prince Bukunyi Olateru-Olagbegi, represents the new face of active youth involvement in politics. Recently registered by Nigeria’s top electoral body, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the party intends to galvanise youths into engaging in policy formulation, government accountability and running for political office.

According to Bukunyi Olateru-Olagbegi, the party belongs solely to Nigerians who yearn to see a difference in politics and governance. He explained that the mission of the party is to be home for those who are weary of the status quo and want to be part of something fresh, new, untainted and different.

“We are focused on harnessing the mental and physical resources of this unique generation of youth brimming with fresh ideas and innovations which will finally put Nigeria in its rightful place on the world stage,” Olateru-Olagbegi said.

“We know that the journey ahead of us will be long. This is not a party registered for the 2019 presidential elections. We are here for the long haul and wish to call on all true patriots of our fatherland to get involved as we embark on this journey towards building Nigeria’s first and truly Modern Democratic Party.”

Last year, the Nigerian Senate passed the Not Too Young To Run Bill which seeks age reduction for elective officers in the country and allows the youths an opportunity to contest for the office of the president at the age of 35, and governor or senator at the age of 30.

As young people across the country are calling on President Buhari to assent to the bill, the Modern Democratic Party has gone ahead to unveil its manifesto and planned activities in preparation for next year’s general elections.

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The sporting festival which is a partnership with management of Ilaji Stadium and Resorts Centre was on Monday, officially addressed journalists at the unveiling of the tournament slated for March 17, 2018 at the Ilaji Stadium and Resorts Centre, Akanran.

The council boss while addressing newsmen noted that the Public, Private Partnership between the local council and management of the sporting complex is to model the initiative after the Governor Abiola Ajimobi administration.

He said: “may I crave your indulgence once more to state that the partnership between the public and private sectors being witnessed in this arrangement is a product of specific and unambiguous directive of His Excellency, Senator Abiola Ajimobi to the local government council to partner with the private sector be it individuals or corporate for purpose of participatory governance that is capable of eventually yielding benefits for the people.

” The mission of the sporting festival is to provide an avenue where youths are engaged in international standard sport programmes where attention is redirected from anti social activities to sports thereby promoting peace and unity in the society. It is also to make our youths more responsible and awaken to their roles as future leaders”.

The council boss also averred that the sporting festival will promote socio-economic activities of Ona-Ara people as “we expect a high inflow of people to the local council area”.

According to him, there are eight games slated for the sporting festival which include: football, basketball, volleyball,  table tennis, lawn tennis, handball, ayo olopon and athletics.

Speaking further, Ogundele also charged both private and public schools in the state to give priority to sports, adding that education has gone beyond mere academics as more people get their means of likelihood through sports and sports related jobs.

He, however called on public spirited, especially the sons and daughters of Ona- Ara Local Government to emulate the ingenuity creativity and philanthropic gesture of Engr. Sanusi, the owner of the sporting complex to bring development to the council.

Also speaking at the media parley, the Coordinator, Ilaji Stadium and Resorts Centre, Mr. Babatunde Olaniyi informed that the sports festival which will run from March 6th, 2018- March 23rd, 2018 was launched with the purpose of creating an event that will encourage communal unity as well as youth development.

The erstwhile Special Assistant  to the Oyo State Governor on Broadcast, Olaniyi stressed that the concept was to use the multi-sports festival to discover and develop talents and also to bring the best from the community to limelight.

“One of the objectives is to use the sporting complex as an avenue through which people can recreate and as a means of “escape route” from the hustle and bustle of the state capital, ibadan. Akanran being a suburb and agrarian town has a serene and non-polluted environment, hence, the guest rooms being constructed simultaneously with the sporting facilities.

“The guest rooms will serve as the accommodation for those who want to use the complex for various kinds of recreation or the other”, he said.

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