The federal government has called on Nigerian youths to take advantage of the present digital revolution to channel their energy to good causes through the acquisition of new skills and knowledge sharing so as to nourish human capacity for the socio-economic development of the country.
Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola made the call Tuesday during a Stakeholders Engagement on Internal Security and Conflict Resolution in Nigeria.
In his speech, titled, “Lagos is the destiny of our race,” Aregbesola described the youth as the pride and glory of any people.
In a statement made available by the director of press Ministry of Interior, Mohammed Manga quoted the Minister as saying “The youths are the pride and glory of any people. We must understand that youths are a unique demography. People under the age of 25 constitute 45% of global population, while they are 60% in Africa and the Middle East.
“Today’s youth are a peculiar breed. They are a new generation of the social media and the power of ideas and intellect. They appear more intelligent and far more enterprising than previous generations, the deployment of their intelligence is a different matter; which we must all seek to re-channel through positive modelling and gainful employment.”
Aregbesola said the digital revolution has increased young people’s capacity to bring about positive social change. ICT gives them the tools to learn new skills, to share knowledge and to nourish human capacity.
The Minister stated that the stakeholders engagement was convened to proffer lasting solution to security challenges across the state and the country at large, in order to enhance socio-economic development, especially in the wake of the ENDSARS protest, promote unity among diverse ethnic population of the State as well as share knowledge and ideas on matters that could create crisis in the polity and proffer proactive solution, among others.
Earlier, the governor of Lagos state, Babajide Sanwo-Olu pledged the support of the good people of Lagos State and by extension, the entire South West region, to President Muhammadu Buhari’s led-Administration in its determination to ensuring peace and security in the country so as to bring about socio-economic development of the nation.
Also speaking, the Minister of Police Affairs, Alh. Muhammad Dingyadi, condoled with the Lagos State Governor on the destruction of properties.
