Nigeria’s Future Lies With Youth, Not Oil, Says Ambassador Adeyemi

By Solomon Odeniyi

The President General of World Youth United Nations Organisation, Ambassador Adeniyi Adeyemi has said  Nigeria should place priority on youth as its greatest asset rather than oil for the sake of its future.

He said the country must learn to give its youth a place in the leadership of the nation as it is fundamental to the nation’s growth and development.

He added that if the 68 million estimated populations of the youth were to be a nation they would have been the fourth largest country in Africa, and 19th in the world, noting that by sheer numerical strength it would have been a major country.

Adeyemi spoke at the Living Faith church, Osogbo’s Mega Leadership and capacity building Conference.

He stressed that democracy is expected to mirror the demographic composition of the Nigeria population and the youth which constitute the majority as well as a distinct social class ought to be given its rightful representation in the leadership of the nation just as gender has attained recognition as a distinct social category.

Adeyemi emphasized on the need for youth activism  and engagement which he said, could bring about important social changes that are sometimes left behind, highlighting that knowing their rights, learning about local issues, networking with inspiring youth around the world , being a trendsetter, and hosting a youth summit among others are some of the ways the youth could get involved, locally or globally.