The deputy governor of Lagos State, Dr. Kadri Obafemi Hamzat has said the government is doing all that is possible to bring more youth population into the ecosystem.
The Deputy Governor made the assertion during the public presentation of the distillation edition of the periodic report, known as, the Neuroscience of Nigerian Youth Trends and Culture Report fittingly themed, “Aramanda” at a colourful ceremony held in Lagos.
Hamzat, who was represented by the Commissioner for Youths and Social Development, Hon. Mobolaji Ogunlende affirmed the importance of the youth population in the society saying, “We have to bring the youths into the ecosystem. We have no choice.
‘’The event which was organised by Public Relations and Communications Consulting firm, Chain Reactions Africa focussed on creating awareness on the rising wave of a new variant of populism amongst the youth as it could upend both government and businesses.’’
The organisers therefore called on the government and businesses in Nigeria to keep an eye on the trend amongst the youth.
They believed that the youths have a major role to play and they are already playing that role, but the government and business institutions have to recognise this new reality.
Speaking on this variant of populism described as “popumoblism”, , Group Strategy Director of the consulting firm Adekunle Dixon Odukoya cited many examples of this variant of populism from across the world beginning from the Arab spring, the recent pension protests in Paris, the demonstrations that rocked in Israel over government’s push for a wide-ranging judicial overhaul, among others.
Also speaking at the event, Managing Director/Chief Strategist, Chain Reactions Africa, Israel Opayemi, explained that the report has been titled, ‘Aramanda’ to typify the baffling character of the mystique surrounding behavioural evolution within the youth population which, he says, can be perplexing for government and businesses unless intentionally studied and understood by those responsible for policy and business decision making in government and on the side of businesses.
“What this distillation edition of this report is about is to present to stakeholders what we have been studying for a number of years, which is that we have been tracking trends within the youth population not only in Nigeria but across Africa.
‘’Youth Trends and Culture simply point to the emerging belief system, the things that the young people are doing now and the way they behave. So, we have been tracking these behavioural patterns as a consulting firm.’’
