The Ogun State Commissioner for youth and sports, Dr. Oluwadare Kehinde, says that the challenges facing the youths in the country are surmountable, hence, they should be prepared/believed to overcome it.
Dr. Kehinde stated this at a maiden edition of the town hall meeting of the Ogun State Caucus of the Nigerian Youth Parliament, with the theme “National Security and Youth Development”, held at valley view auditorium, Isale Igbein, Abeokuta, the state capital.
Kehinde, in a statement signed by Press Officer, Ministry of Youth and Sports, Mrs. Dupe Odeniyi, said that security is everyone’s business and no one is expected to be left out, so as to be very cautious not to fall into victim of kidnapping, robbery and molestation, saying this is coming at the right time that security challenges is affecting the development of the Nigerian Youth.
The commissioner added that the challenges facing the youths should not believe that they were insurmountable, noting that it is necessary that all hands must be on deck to critically and holistically address the security challenges in the country by ensuring self security at all time.
He said that the youth who constituted over fifty percent (50%) of the country’s population and regarded as vulnerable must be adequately considered in planning development project in the country.
“In reducing the security challenges in the State, this administration is making frantic efforts by giving the youth a new least of life by way of provision of gainful employment which is away of taking youths out of the streets and making them to be employers of labour, as well as being able to take care of their families, and shun all forms of crimes and criminality”, Kehinde said.
In his welcome address, a member of the National Youth Parliament, representing Ogun West, Prince Oyede Oke disclosed that the meeting seeks to bring Ogun stakeholders and the youths together towards a robust discussion at sustaining the peace being enjoyed in the State, saying absence of peace may be an inimical to national growth and development.
Prince Oke said security is everyone’s business especially as 2023 election is approaching, adding that the gathering is a testimony that Prince Dapo Abiodun has a special interest in the youths of the State, hence is approval to hold this Town Hall Meeting as it’s obtaining in other States of the federation.
The Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Engr, Olayiwola Abiodun, said that it was a great privilege for them to be part of the gathering, as it was imperative for the youths to tow part of responsive life, and not part crime and criminality in the society.
He urged them to shun abuse of substances and other vices which would make them vulnerable to security challenges, adding that the only a good state of health can think of development.
In their separate goodwill messages, the Special Assistant to the Governor on Youths Affairs and Youth Development, Mr. Rasheed Aroboto and Desmond Olujimi said youths should see themselves as the strength of the nation and therefore be ready to be weapon of development and not destruction, saying that their future is in their hands as they need to support the government to ensure adequate security which would engender development in all facet of life.
