Idris Abubakar
The Federal Government has challenged youths in the country to take advantage of the present digital revolution by channeling their energy to good causes.
A statement signed by the Director (Press & Public Relations) Mohammed Manga said the Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola made the call in Lagos during a Stakeholders Engagement on Internal Security and Conflict Resolution in Nigeria.
In his speech, titled, “Lagos is the destiny of our race,” Aregbesola described the youth as the pride and glory of any people.
“The youths are the pride and glory of any people. We must understand that youths are a unique demography. People under the age of 25 constitute 45% of global population, while they are 60% in Africa and the Middle East”.
“Today’s youth are a peculiar breed. They are a new generation of the social media and the power of ideas and intellect.
“They appear more intelligent and far more enterprising than previous generations, the deployment of their intelligence is a different matter; which we must all seek to re-channel through positive modelling and gainful employment.
According to the minister, the digital revolution has increased young people’s capacity to bring about positive social change.
“ICT gives them the tools to learn new skills, to share knowledge and to nourish human capacity.”
He said because information flows seamlessly around the planet, young people can more effectively act as catalyst for change – locally and globally.
“They must therefore be commended for the courage to start a movement that shook the foundation of this nation in a way that has never been done before. “However, much as they are a great asset, they also can be a great risk – to themselves and to the society – if their energy is not positively channelled”, he added.
He observed further that the time has come to rouse the consciousness of their leading lights to confront the charlatans among them.
These charlatans he said, are the elements capable of dragging down society, because according to him, their activities are destructive to society as well as to themselves.
The Minister stated that the stakeholders engagement was convened to proffer lasting solution to security challenges across the state and the country at large, in order to enhance socio-economic development, especially in the wake of the EndSARS protest, promote unity among diverse ethnic population of the State as well as share knowledge and ideas on matters that could create crisis in the polity and proffer proactive solution, among others.
