Experts have urged Nigerian youths to embrace entrepreneurship and be resilient to weather whatever storm that might arise to stem their potential.
This comes amid challenges of soaring inflation and economic downtown rocking the country.
The experts gave the charge at a constitutional governance conference with the theme, ‘The Role of the Local Government in Delivering of Democratic Dividends in the Wake of Economic Instability, Food Insecurity and Pressure from International Obligations, Organisations’ organised by a non-governmental organisation, ‘Africa for Africa Youth Initiative’ in Lagos
The experts at the conference organised an NGO whose founder is the popular preacher, Pastor Chris Oyakhilome, enjoined youths in the country to desist from massive migration abroad for greener pastures (japa), noting that there are opportunities awaiting to be tapped in Nigeria.
A lecturer who is from the oil and gas industry, Dr Benjamin Ubido, noted that, “We have so many opportunities in Africa and in Nigeria. What hinders us is based on the knowledge and available information we have.”
The businessman therefore advised the youth to leverage the agriculture sector, saying food is very vital in any nation around the world.
He lamented that farmers were being portrayed as poor but argued that there were opportunities awaiting the youth in the agriculture sector to be able to make it in life.
He stressed that the minimum amount spent on food monthly in Nigeria is N6 trillion, adding that youth should go into agriculture to rise economically.
In his presentation that dwelt on career progression in the civil service, Deacon Armstrong Oyakhilome who was a former staff of World Bank and consultant for IITA, remarked that the civil service remained one of the available opportunities for youth to develop themselves.
“For you to be in the civil service, it takes care of all disciplines. Without civil servants, no government can function because civil service is the engine room, the brainbox of every government,” he noted
A former member of the House of Representatives, Hon Sergius Ogun, encouraged the youth to pick interest in politics, saying they have opportunities to make it.
Earlier, the chief executive officer of Africa for Africa Youth Initiative, Henry Akasili said the essence of the conference is “To help us build the future of Africa. Africa is rich in talents despite the challenges. Politics pulled us back and limited our potential. We need solutions, with this discourse, there must be transformation of our youth.
“The youth are not only the future but the present, their creativity and energies are what Africa needs to grow. We change the socio-political landscape of our people,” he stated.
