NAN-H-31
Youths
By Mercy Osajiugo
Minna, Jan. 23, 2017 (NAN) The Chairman, Nigerian Youth Parliament (NYP), Niger State Chapter, Malam Muhammad Lado, has urged the Niger State Government to include the youth in its decision-making process.
Lado, who represents Niger South Senatorial District at the NYP, made the plea in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Minna on Monday.
He urged the state government to realise that the Niger youths were the basis for the development of the state and should be given the necessary attention.
“ We do not have to agitate for everything. They should understand that the youth of Niger are full of potential that are untapped.
“ We are full of potential and they should give us the priority that we deserve in the scheme of things. It is true that they recognise us but that is not just enough.
“ It will be germane if we participate in all the decision making processes that concerns the youths directly, ‘’ he said.
Lado further said that the government should take advantage of the ages of the youth, adding that the youth were prepared to go into farming if adequately empowered.
“Our basic emphasis is on agriculture and entrepreneurship, which are the only way out of this recession that Nigerians are facing.
“It is only the youth that can solve the numerous problem that are facing the country because we have the energy and acumen but we need support and synergy from the government,’’ he said.
Similarly, the Secretary of NYP, Miss Rahimar Abubakar, representing Niger North Senatorial District of the NYP, stressed the need for inclusion of youths in the decision making process..
“If the government carries us along, this will give us a voice because we the youth, know our problems.
“Nobody can know our problems more than we do. So, our cravings to be part of the process of decision making should be respected,’’ she said.
Abubakar said that with that, the youth would be able to advise the government on best measures to adopt in tackling problems.
“As a result of non-inclusion, most youths are lying idle and are prone to becoming vulnerable to social vices,’’ she said.
She said that one of the problems the youth were facing included lack of motivation.
Abubakar said this made the youth felt they were not important; hence some of them took to social vices.
She said that as representatives of the youths, she was daily saddled with their complaints and if they were given the opportunity, Nigerian youths would be better citizens. (NAN)
MNO/GOM/AJA
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(Edited by Gregory Mmaduakolam/Adeleye Ajayi)
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