‘How sustainable engagement of youths can tackle economic hardship'

The Neo-Black Movement of Africa Worldwide (NBM of Africa) has canvassed robust engagement of youths in curbing economic hardship. Regional President of the Movement, Lawrence Okonye, who spoke during the inaugural Lagos Regional summit, with the theme, “Youths engagement: A panacea to eradicating economic hardship,” said that the prevailing challenges of economic instability, unemployment, and social inequality, could only be effectively addressed by involving the youngsters in the solution-making process, adding that energy, innovative spirit, and willingness to embrace change are invaluable assets that must be leveraged.

Okonye, while acknowledging that Nigeria is blessed with a vibrant and dynamic youth population, imbued with creativity, and resilience, said that his organisation was focusing on reaching a level where it could provide a platform that nurtures qualities and offers opportunities for young people to thrive.

“The government must build bridges between education and employment, policy and practice, and aspirations and achievements. By doing so, we can create a robust ecosystem that supports youths at every stage of their journey, from education to entrepreneurship and employment.

“There is a need to involve conventional solutions and to embrace bold, transformative ideas. Together, we can pave the way for a Nigeria where economic hardship is a thing of the past, and where every young person has the opportunity to realise his or her full potential,” he said. National President, Olorogun Ese Kakor, urged the youths to play an active role in nation-building. He lauded the theme, noting its relevance in light of the current economic challenges facing Nigerians.

According to him, “I am impressed with the theme of this summit. It is particularly apt at this time when Nigerians are facing significant economic hardship. I encourage us to delve into the theme and the critical issues it raises.”

In his presentation, Hope Aliu emphasised that engaging the youths in entrepreneurship and innovation could lead to the development of new solutions to existing economic problems.

He stressed that youth-led start-ups often address unmet needs and gaps in the market, leading to the creation of new industries in the business sector. Aliu added that governments and organisations that support youth entrepreneurship through grants, mentorship programmes and incubation centres, could harness this potential to stimulate economic growth and reduce hardship.

Another speaker, Kelvin Agbroko, believed that the inability of the government to empower the youths is disturbing, as the development has precipitated a situation where social problems are multiplying rapidly.

Agbroko, therefore, suggested that functional literacy levels should be raised by facilitating qualitative educational attainment by youths through bursaries, scholarships and student loans.

Ajiboye Olayemi, in his lecture, focused on four key areas: physical involvement, political participation, social engagement, and business/entrepreneurship. He stated that youths are crucial to eradicating economic hardship as they make up the larger percentage of the population in any economy.