IOM, CSOs Urge FG To Invest More In Youths

Africa Youth Growth Foundation (AYGF), International Alert (IA) and International Organisation for Migration (IOM), have implored President Bola Tinubu to give the youths more positions in his cabinet.

The trio disclosed this during a road show ahead of the 2023 International Youth Day conference in Abuja yesterday.

Addressing newsmen, the executive director AYGF, Dr Arome Salifu said this alarming situation not only perpetuates persistent poverty but also fuels the phenomenon of mass migration, also referred to as the “Japa Syndrome”.

He said our Nigerian youth are not passive observers; they actively seek participation in policy formulation and decision-making processes that drive both personal and communal progress.

Salifu said: “Unfortunately, these aspirations often encounter barriers that prevent their involvement, despite their undeniable relevance.

“The new government, at all levels; federal and state inclusive, holds a pivotal role in spearheading a comprehensive drive to drastically reduce the pressing challenges of youth unemployment, mass migration, youth poverty, and the exclusion of young voices from policy-making processes.

“By actively involving the youth in policy formulation, the government can tap into a wellspring of innovative ideas and fresh perspectives, thus shaping a narrative that resonates deeply with the aspirations of our society.”

He said the collaborative approach offers an unprecedented opportunity to establish a robust and forward-looking agenda.

On his part, the country director, International Alert, Dr Paul Nyulaku represented by the senior project coordinator, International Alert, Sunday Jimoh, stressed the need for youth involvement in policy making, decision-making, peace and security in the nation.

He stressed the need for the government to ensure youth participation in government.