Governorship candidate on the platform of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) and former minister of State for education, Olorogun Barr. Kenneth Gbagi, has called for the creation of sustainable platforms and empowerment programmes for young Nigerians to enable them play their role in the governance of the country.
In a statement on Friday August 12th 2022, by his Personal Assistant, Temitope Temiloluwa, and made available to journalists, Gbagi, the youth delight, gave the charge to commemorate the 2022 International Youth Day.
The renowned Criminologist, emphasized that ending youth restiveness and attaining peace can only be actualized and maintained through concerted effort by governments across all levels to take the development of young people as a national priority.
He said: “Today, on International Youth Day, we celebrate the endless potential and constant ideas of Nigeria’s young people, both at home and in Diaspora.
“This day provides an opportunity for all of us, both youth and adults alike, to reflect on the future of our nation, to decide on the active and participatory role that we want our young people to play in the governance of our country and to work towards building a nation that the upcoming generation would be proud of”.
The largest private investor vowed that the alarming rate of unemployment which rose to 35% in the third quarter of 2022, as well as insecurity which has brought to a halt economic activities in most parts of the country, would be a thing of the past when SDP forms government come 2023.
In his words: “My administration and the SDP-led government in Delta State come 2023, will be committed to furthering the opportunities of our young people. Through our work on educational initiatives, we hope to develop the minds of our young ones to make them competitive internationally.
“With our youth emancipation and women empowerment policy, we hope to provide more opportunities for young people to make them self-sufficient and employers of labour.
“For Nigeria to work for all its citizens, the fiery ingenuity of our youth must be blended with the dependable experience of our older generation. In this regard, I urge all young Nigerians, to continue contributing their quota to the upliftment our nation.
“I also urge the older generation to see this day as a turning point when they embrace the advice that our young people have to proffer to move our nation forward,” Gbagi said.