In line with current economic realities in Nigeria especially as it affects the youth, Rising Up for United Nigeria (RUN) in partnership with Empowerment for Unemployed Youth Initiative (EUYI) have demanded a thorough investigation into the management and disbursement of the ₦75 billion Nigeria Youth Investment Fund by the federal government.
The groups made the call over the weekend in Abuja at an event to mark 2023 International Youth Day celebration.
The event, which gathered youth leaders from across the country and Civil Society Organisations to discuss pressing issues affecting their generation focused on the theme, “Green Skills for Youth: Towards a Sustainable World.”
In a communique issued at the end of the event, Amb. Solomon Adodo pledged to collaborate with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on his ‘Renewed Hope Agenda’ and other areas relevant to youth development but insisted that there must be a comprehensive and holistic probe of the Nigeria Youth Investment Fund first before any meaningful engagement with Nigerian youths can take place.
According to the communique, “as Nigerian youths, we cannot shy away from speaking truth to power. The management of the ₦75 billion Nigeria Youth Investment Fund is a huge fraud and an embarrassment to our dear country. We therefore demand for a comprehensive forensic investigation into the fund’s management and disbursement to ensure transparency and accountability for the sake of our future and the prosperity of Nigeria and her economy.”
The youth groups maintained that the Nigerian Youth Investment Fund if well managed can end the menace of youth unemployment in Nigeria. Furthermore, they emphasised their readiness to partner with the present adminstration to bring about positive change in the areas of reversing rural-urban migration to bolster rural economies and the creation of youth economic hubs across the country, “provided the partnership is founded on constructive dialogue, policy reviews, transparency, accountability and advisory input”.
On his part, the Commandant General of Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Abubakar Audi represented by FCT Commandant, Olusola Odumosu, advised the Nigerian youths to continue to be resilient and dogged in the face of challenges facing them.
He said: “The idea for such theme is not far-fetched in a world that is faced with emissions and climate change. Your impact in instituting the necessary tools and institutions to combat the threats that face us all is fundamentally germane. Hence, the need for tapping into your skills to engender a sustainable and habitable humanity.”
He said NSCDC has been partnering with youths and in the rural communities and would continue in that vain to ensure that they embrace education and peace which is the bedrock of development.
Speaking earlier, President of the Council for Renewable Energy of Nigeria, Dr Sunny Akpoyibo noted that by acquiring green skills, the youth could contribute to finding innovative solutions to the pressing environmental challenges confronting the planet.
“I encourage you to take charge of your own learning and seek opportunities that allow you to develop these essential green skills. Embrace sustainability as a way of life and incorporate eco-friendly practices into your daily routines”.
Dr Akpoyibo also emphasized the need for the youth to unite and demand policies and initiatives that prioritize environmental conservation, social equity, and economic viability.
