Youths have been urged to acquire and adopt relevant skills for active participation in politics and governance toward building a better Nigeria.
This admonition was given at the Maiden Youth and Governance Symposium organized by the Youth Council of Nigeria, Lagos West Senatorial District recently.
While giving her speech, the Candidate of the All Progressives Congress for Lagos West Senatorial seat and former Deputy Governor of Lagos State, Dr. Idiat Adebule said the contribution of youths are important in developing the nation and as a result, they need to adopt necessary organizational and leadership skills to be actively involved in politics and governance.
“There is no way you can develop this nation without the youths’ contribution, of course, we look at their population, their numerical strength, it’s quite large so as a result, you can not do anything in terms of development without involving the youth,” She said.
“However, they need to come together, acquire and adopt relevant skills and put together how they too can be part of governance, we can’t do without them.” She added.
Speaking further, Adebule advised the youths to shun violence vote-selling and other electoral anomalies and ensure that they are part of the electioneering process.
While speaking at the event, Hon. Razak Ajala, Chairman of Odi-Olowo LCDA said he disagrees with the popular opinion that there are difficulties for youths to penetrate grassroots governance.
“I disagree with you that the youths find it difficult to penetrate the grassroots because they are members of their respective communities by being a resident of a particular community and that automatically confer on them the membership of that community so to that extent you cannot claim not be a member of that community,” he said.
“You need to develop the right organizational/leadership skill, the ability to be able to manage and accommodate people of diverse backgrounds in such a way that they will believe in your aspiration towards working together with you to achieve your political goal or aspiration” Ajala Added.
Meanwhile, the leadership of the National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN) Lagos West, Coordinators of local branches and other relevant stakeholders used the medium to endorse former Deputy Governor Dr. Idiat Adebule as candidate for the Lagos West Senatorial District seat judging founder continued support for youths in the constituency.
The event had over 2,000 participants and other notable dignatories that attended include the Deputy Governor of Lagos State, Dr. Kadiri Obafemi Hamzat represented by his Director of Youth and Sports, Mr. Abdul Lateef Saka, the Speaker of Lagos State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Mudashiru Obasa represented by his Chief of Staff, Prince Sunday Ladipo, Senior Special Adviser to the State Governor on Science and Technology, Engr. Saheed Balogun, the renowned activist, Segun Awosanya among others.
