12th August, 2016
The President, Christian Youth for Peace and Development Initiative, Mr Simon Dolly, has advised Nigerian youths to embrace peace and dialogue for the overall development of the country.
Dolly gave the advice on Friday in Abuja to commemorate the 2016 International Youth Day.
According to him, without peace in the country, Nigeria cannot achieve any meaningful development.
“Most of the crises in the country are mostly done by the youths, such as the Niger Delta militancy.
“If they continue sabotaging the economic, the country will not move forward and criminality will increase.
“The youths constitute the largest in the country, they play very important role in the progress of the country, dialogue is best option for any crisis,” he said.
Besides, Dolly advised the youths to work hard, cooperate and support their leaders.
“We must give respect to our elders, leaders and pray for them to succeed in their leadership and create good atmosphere for them to operate for national development of the country.”
On his part, Mr Abanka Musa, the Executive Director, Refocusing Nigerians Talents Organisation (RENITO), an NGO, urged youths to cultivate the habit of contributing to nation-building.
“The youths should avoid any form of violence and believe in themselves rather than being used for thuggery.
“The youths are the leaders of tomorrow, they should be hardworking, and emulate those men and women of integrity in the society,” he said.
The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) Youth Wing President, Mr Daniel Kadzai, called on the Federal Government to make policies that would reduce the increasing rate of unemployment in the country.
“Our leaders should create jobs for this younger generation; many of them are frustrated and ready to do anything to meet their daily needs.
“Unemployment rate in the country has allowed kidnapping, robbery, prostitution, drug trafficking, terrorism and vandalisation of pipelines.
Kadzai noted that with appropriate policies in the country, it would reduce some of the challenges facing youths.
He said employment can reduce risky and deviant behaviours that correlate with youth violence such as criminal activity, drug use, teenage pregnancy, disconnecting from school and political violence in the country.
“Increasing the quantity of jobs available is important and the quality of those jobs is equally important.”
The theme for this year’s International Youth Day is: “The Road to 2030: Eradicating Poverty and Achieving Sustainable Consumption and Production.
“It is about achieving the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.”