The Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Tunji Disu has described the Nigerian youths as resourceful and has the capacity to survive any situation if well guided.
ACP Disu who is Commander, Lagos Rapid Response Squad (RRS), made this assertion while receiving an Award of Honour presented to him by the convener of the Future Matters Concept group, Mr Adewale Adeleye at his office today.
Disu opined that most times when youth’s take to crimes, it is as a result of the urgent need to dissipate stored up energy, knowledge and capabilities.
Commenting on why Nigerian youths takes to crime, he said “It is very simple, the youths are energetic, they have all these strength in them, they have dreams, and they have plans to achieve so they go all out by any means to ensure they achieve it.
“They have gone to school, finished their final exams and graduated, if they are not employed where do they channel their energy and knowledge?
“Some people are so good that they can go into any trade, despite the
fact that they are graduates so if they with all the potentials take to crime, they do everything to carry it out, so I am not surprise that they are the most vulnerable,” he said.
In his estimation, “the Nigerian youths are the life wire of the nation, the Nigerian youths are the future of this country, they are energetic and they love knowledge, they are out every day and night to make a name.
“At the same time don’t forget that Nigerian youths are energetic and very resourceful that many of them no longer wait for government to provide jobs.
“They rather go into trade, organizing parties, there are lots of things involved in event planning; like those who man the lightening, feeding and those making music and it is a multimillion naira
industry.
“They no longer do mechanics; they are engineers’ automated rewires in attempt to make ends meet.
“ I meet them daily in my line of duty, my first discipline is education so I educate their minds to shun vices, I do counsel them anywhere I meet them, I look at youths as people who have strength and energy to dissipate somewhere, so I help groom them aright most times.
He appreciated the innovation of the organizers of “Beyond secondary education what next? (BSEWN)” citing their thoughtfulness as genuine and a sign of resourcefulness.
“All of you are youths, you did pretty well, organizing such an epoch making event, same with the audience, virtually all the guest turned out for the programme and if not for the fact that I was a little bit down the weather, I would have been around myself because I made a mistake of the date earlier, the coordinator can confirm that I was even at the venue when I discovered that, which speaks to the fact that I was interested in the youths matter.
According to the convenver of the program, Adewale Adeleye, it is imperative to discourage youth’s restiveness at this stage, where young people are prone to identity crises.
Adeleye noted further that the main objectives of the 7th edition of BSEWN are entrenched in the theme, ‘Achieving Greatness through Positive Vibes and the topic of the panel session is ‘Eschew Vices and Embracing Virtues’.
“We decided to acknowledge the roles of Nigerian Police force in ensuring that youth’s involvement in crimes is doused.
This speaks to the intent of the Award of Honour presented to Assistant Commissioner of police, Rapid Response Squad, Lagos State, Mr. Olatunji Disu for his efforts towards the mindsets reorientation of young people.