Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Bullion Go-Neat Global Limited, Ambassador Olufemi Ajadi Oguntoyinbo, has restated the need for government at all levels to create industries for local production of goods and products, as well as empower the Nigerian youths.
Speaking during an interactive session with the Commerce and Industry Correspondents Association of Nigeria (CICAN) delegation, in his office, yesterday, Ajadi stated that Nigerian youths like their counterparts worldwide, have huge potentials waiting to be fully harnessed.
He said the necessity of harnessing and unleashing such potential included increased productivity, value addition, inclusion of the younger generation in the act of governance, as well as reduction in crime.
Lamenting the economic pressures that Nigerians have pushed to in the last few months, he said it has become urgent for the government to do something.
Ambassador Ajadi observed that prices of things have skyrocketed in the last few months, whereas salaries have remained stagnant, warning that that was not good for an economy with huge youth population.
Ajadi, a chieftain of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) in Ogun State and its candidate in the last general election, summed his urgent call on the Federal Government to rise up to its duties of helping to make life more meaningful generally for Nigerians, create more employment opportunities and ensure that Nigerian youths are meaningfully engaged after graduation.
He also urged the government to urgently boost production activities through key incentives for employers of labour and help to crash the prices of essential items in the market so that ordinary Nigerians could conveniently provide food for their households.
Ajadi described the Nigerian youth as “one filled with energy,” saying such should be harnessed for improved agricultural that could translate to industrial revolution.
“Government can harness local potentials by setting up and equipping farm settlements and agriculture production centres at selected locations nationwide.
“It can motivate youths to take up the initiative by supporting them with take-off funds which should be closely monitored and supervised,” he said.
He also recommended that technical colleges and polytechnics should be made really practical-oriented and equipped to enable them to fabricate machines for local production, adding that such institutions could be made industrial starter-points.
“I believe that we can better harness the potential of Nigerian youths, which include their population and energy. The government can make budgetary provisions through the relevant agencies for radical change that would engage youths selected from the senatorial zones or wards of the country, for productive agriculture.
“It is something that would keep many youths economically engaged, and eventually led to improved agricultural output,” he stressed.
