Govt. urged to reposition youths for national development

Repositioning the youths to play any meaningful role in national development has been identified as a key responsibility that should form part of the focus of any government including Nigeria that is blessed with strong, talented and enterprising youthful population.

This is contained in a communiqué issued at the end of a five-day youth convocation in Lagos. The theme of the convocation was “Impact 2022”.

The global youth convocation was convened by the General Superintendent, Deeper Christian Life Ministry, Pastor (Dr) William Kumuyi. It was held from 5th to 9th, January 2022 at the Deeper Life International Conference Centre (DLICC), with participants connecting at various centres in Nigeria and other nations of the world. A huge number participated virtually, globally.

According to the communiqué, government and other stakeholders are urged to prioritise fundamental issues affecting teenagers, campus students and young adults.

It read in part, “A comprehensive youth policy be developed to address issues specific to the various categories of youths. Transformation agenda must characterise this and similar global youth-focused initiatives to address the ills in the world of youths. The void in the social life of youths must be addressed by entrenching civic, moral and ethical values in the educational curriculum.”

It recommended further that, “Governments of nations should prioritise the identified youth-specific targets in the Agenda 2030 while the global community should specifically focus on youths in future global agenda. Governments at all levels should mainstream youth development initiatives, fund and implement more youth-focused intervention programmes.”

Kumuyi, who was assisted by international youth influencers, industry leaders, and other resource persons, addressed the youths on various social, economic, spiritual and other aspects of life.

While the convocation acknowledges and appreciates the vision, passion and commitment of the Convener of Impact 2022, it pleads that youths should be equipped with appropriate secular education, soft and life skills to prepare them for positive engagement in formulating and implementing policies meant for their social category.

“Periodic events like Impact 2022 should be encouraged as a platform for re-engaging the youth, re-focusing their latent talents and energies, and so as to give them a voice.

Chairman, First Bank Limited and guest speaker, Ibukun Awosika, whose inspiring speech was titled, “Leadership and Godliness” said “example is a bigger teacher than what we say. God gave us the power to choose and to be a leader is about the divine power of God that works through you and that the beginning of a journey does not define the end.”

She challenged the youths to stay focused and be godly even though the environment will always try to condition them to do things contrary to God’s plan.