Nigeria: President Jonathan meets youths to discuss on the way forward
By Chinyere Ogbonna – The Nigerian President, Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan has stated his administration’s resolve to give priority to job creation and youth empowerment in the country in the next four years.
He made this known in Lagos at an interactive session with the Nigerian youths at Eko Hotel.
The President gave the assurance in Lagos at a meeting with a cross section of Nigerian Youths as part of activities to mark the Presidential Inauguration scheduled for May 29.
President Jonathan also re-assured that he would give more room to youth involvement in government, especially at the National level.
He noted that there were plans to reform the National Youth Service Corps scheme to achieve the goals for which it was established.
President Goodluck Jonathan also mentioned that his administration did not have plans to scrap the NYSC Scheme, established in 1973 to foster National unity, he however said there were plans to reform the scheme to achieve the goals for which it was established.
The NYSC is a programme that is helpful to the Nigerian youth.
It encourages integration and creates environment for youth to move out of their domain and afford them the opportunity to learn other cultures.
He therefore said he would not subscribe to the call that the programme should be scrapped. The President announced plans to make the scheme more functional, practical and profitable.
On the amendment of the constitution, President Jonathan said he would be presenting bills for the amendment six months from now.
He called on relevant stakeholders including the youth, to submit memorandum that will be useful in drafting the executive bills.
He further attributed the success and victory of the April polls to the doggedness of the Nigerian youths and thanked them for it and assured that they would be carried along in policy formulations and decision-making, particularly on issues affecting the youth.
President Jonathan was hinted by the youth council to look into key areas in the Nigeria economy such as Job creation,corruption,power generation after the inauguration to better everyday living of the average Nigerian.
The youths called for measures to be taken to protect the corps members where ever they are posted for their national assignment so as to achieve the purpose of the scheme.
The president’s meeting with the youths is one out of series of meetings he has held with various groups including the business community to deliberate on the way forward for Nigeria.
