By Evelyn Okakwu
President Mohamadu Buhari has, commended youths in the
country for their significant role in the conduct of the 2015 general elections
As part of his speech at an event to commemorate the 2015
International Youth Day, the President said the ruling All Progressives
Congress was poised at fulfilling all its campaign promises, and called for
patience from youths and all Nigerians
“The role you played, individually and collectively, as
peaceful members of the electorate and galvanising the social media platform
and mobilizing your peers to make the right choice, made the 2015 General
Elections a model for democratic governance in Africa,” the President said.
“Let me reiterate that we are very much committed to
fulfilling all our campaign promises.
We, therefore, seek your cooperation and patience in this regard,” He
added
President Buhari assured that change is not a mere political
slogan for the party, but the beginning of a new era desired by Nigerians,
adding that the youths should be the change they expect to see
He noted the indispensable need for the engagement and
participation of young people to accelerate economic growth and sustainable
development.
“According to the figures I have been presented with, at
least 20 percent of the continent’s population of 1.2 billion is between the
age bracket of 15 – 24 years, with about 42% below 15 years of age. As the rest
of the world gets older, Africa is getting younger”, the President stated
He said one of the greatest challenges facing governments
and policy makers in Africa today is the provision of employment opportunities to
young people.
The president added that the youth constitute a tremendous labour
force that could make Nigeria one of the leading nations of the 21st
century
He recalled the meeting in Malabo 2011, by African leaders
as aimed at providing employment for at least 3% of its unemployed young people
every year.
This he said would be achieved by accelerating the
implementation of the Youth Decade Plan of Action (2009 – 2018) and the
Ouagadougou 2004 Plan of Action on Employment Promotion and Poverty
Alleviation.
He lamented the fact that, economic growth has not
translated into commensurate and improved social outcomes, in Nigeria,
especially for its 60 million young people
“I want to assure you that the new Administration will place
high premium in tackling challenges facing the youth sector. High unemployment rate and inadequate
qualified youths across the country”, the President stated.
He said this administration is poised to providing an
enabling environment for the private sector, pay special attention to the
growth of Small and Medium Scale Enterprises, through intervention funds.
“We will strengthen our academic and vocational training
institutions as well as significantly improve our healthcare delivery system”,
the president added.
He said the effort will certainly in reducing criminal
activities and terrorism since sustainable development cannot take place in the
absence of peace.
The international youth day is a result of the United Nations
Resolution 54/120 reached on December 19 1999 to observe 12th August of every
year as a day to celebrate and appreciate the contribution of the youth to
their various communities.
