ActionAid Nigeria, an international non-governmental organisation, has called on governments at all levels to invest more in human capital development, especially of the youths, to develop the economy and fast-track growth.
Ene Obi, Country Director, ActionAid, made the call at the passing out ceremony for 500 youths, after a week-long peace camp, on peace building and skills acquisition on Friday, in Lokoja.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Peace Camp was organised by ActionAid, in partnership with Participation Initiative for Behavioural Change In Development (PIBCID), with support from Global Community Engagement and Resilience Fund (GCERF).
Obi said the country needed to invest more in our human capital, to fast-track the economy and address the nagging issues of insecurity.
She said that human capital should be developed to enhance the economy, stressing that giving the youths scholarships to study was for economic improvement.
The director noted that over 62 per cent of Nigeria’s population were young persons, saying, “Population is a blessing. It is an engine room for development.
“It’s for you to develop your economy. You are blessed when you have this population of young people who are qualified and also willing to use their energy for positive things.
“The government we have now needs to do more. A lot of young people are being left behind. Many of us are graduates of public universities.
Majority of those who are in government today attended public universities in Nigeria,” she said.
In addition, she highlighted the importance of ensuring good hospitals in the country, to better the lot of the people, especially the women.
”As we speak, many women have died in their maternity birth rooms because the hospitals lack adequate personnel and equipment,” she said.
The Speaker, Kogi House of Assembly, Prince Matthew Kolawole, who doubled as review officer for the peace camp, described the successful completion of the programme as a milestone in human development, supported by ActionAid Nigeria.
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Kolawole noted that there was hope in the youths for Nigeria and there was hope for Nigeria in the youths, and that efforts must be made to attain enduring peace that would take the country to higher heights.
“Peace in this country is not negotiable. You can do it, you can make it happen for this country.
“If you believe in yourself and believe in your future you will not engage in crimes and things that will adversely affect your future,” he counselled the youth.
He added that criminal activities in the country were mostly perpetrated by the youths and urged them to insist on peace, to drastically curtail the nation’s security challenges.
Halima Sadiq, Executive Director of PIBCID said, “we have camped 500 youths from 12 communities in six local government areas of the state. We are talking about youths from the age of 18 to 29.
“They are coming from different backgrounds, different upbringings, their capabilities have been built, they have been taught value re-orientation and capacity in peace and conflict, conflict resolution as peace builders,” she said.
Sadiq added that they were also taught different skills in shoe making, soap and cream making, and others, that would take them a long way and help them to be self sufficient into the future.