The Vice-President, Kashim Shettima has declared Nigerian youths the only vehicle for developing the country, insisting no nation can prosper without investing in its youths.
The Vice President asserted that most of the goals the government hopes to achieve locally and globally will be unattainable until the active innovation, involvement and energy of youths are utilised.
Shettima who was represented by the Deputy Chief of Staff to the President, Senator Ibrahim Hadejia, made the assertions at the inaugural Pan-African Legacy Conference of the Mandela Washington Fellowship Alumni Association of Nigeria, MWFAAN.
Commending the Mandela Washington Fellows for their innovations, the VP said there can be no future without preparing the youth to shoulder the burden of leadership.
He said, ‘This understanding informs our agenda to not only bring the youth closer but also to ensure that they have a seat at every table where decisions that shape the life of this nation are made.
”They are the vehicles for our development projections and the change that links our policies to the future. A functional nation is formed from a mix of generations blending experience with fresh ideas and seething wisdom with youthful innovation.
Speaking on the theme of the conference, ‘Shaping the Future of Africa through the AFCT and the Agenda 2063,’ Farida Yahaya, president of the association in Nigeria, said,’ It is time for African youths to come home and rebuild.
”We know that Africa has the best future ahead of us, we know that Africa has the best future ahead of us, we know that Africa has the largest young people in the world and it is projected to actually be the leading workforce of creativity and innovation by 2050.
”When we talk about the AFCTA, which is the Africa Free Continental Trip Area and the Agenda 2063 of the EU, a lot of young people seem to be confused about where to go to, how to take action and how to get support. We believe that this conference today would mark the beginning of a ripple effect and conversations that would make sure we take action to support people who are in far-reaching places.
”I want to remind you that we must continue to leverage our network, skills and resources to drive sustainable development, foster social cohesion and inspire the next generation of leaders. We must also think beyond ourselves and consider the legacy we want to leave for our future generations”.
Meanwhile, the Charge d’ Affaires to the United States Ambassador to Nigeria, David Greene, has asked more Nigerian youths to aspire to be part of the Mandela Washington Fellowship, saying with Nigeria’s population, more young persons can be accepted into the program.
“I was told that there are about 6500 give or take Mandela Washington Fellows around the continent over the 10 years of the program, and there are just over 600 of them from Nigeria. That’s pretty impressive. But as we know, one in four or five Africans is a Nigerian. So I think we see that Nigeria is only 10% of the MWF. Nigerians are underrepresented, and we need to work on that clearly.”
