Youths are Nigeria’s greatest assets… we must invest in them, says Catholic archbishop

Alfred Martins, Catholic archbishop of Lagos diocese, says Nigeria’s youths are the nation’s greatest assets.

The cleric said this during the 17th annual lecture of Anthony Cardinal Okojie Foundation (ACOF) in Lagos.

He said harnessing Nigeria’s youthful population as a tool for nation building involves a range of actions including education and skills development, youth employment and economics, active political participation and social responsibility.

Enase Okonedo, vice chancellor of Pan Atlantic University in Lagos, said there is urgent need to re-orientate Nigeria’s huge youth population for national development.

She said if the youths are properly educated, they can contribute enormously to taking the country to greater heights.

The vice chancellor said the country’s leaders should funnel huge resources into training youths to acquire the right skills.

Okonedo also advised leaders to provide an enabling environment for the youths to apply the skills.

“Chances are that the country’s economic development would come sooner than expected,” she said.

“The right skills are seriously lacking and not meeting the required manpower needed in the employment market.”

She added that equipping educational institutions with the necessary learning tools, particularly in information and communication technology (ICT), would help harness the productivity of Nigeria’s youthful population.

Mobolaji Ogulende, Lagos commissioner for youths and social development, who represented Babajide Sanwo-Olu, governor of Lagos, said the state government recognises the need to invest in the youths and has keyed into empowering them through partnerships with some private sector players.