Vice President Kashim Shettima on Monday reaffirmed the commitment of President Bola Tinubu administration to supporting Nigerian youths in achieving their full potential and contributing to the country’s growth and development.
Shettima spoke when he hosted the National Executive Council of the National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN), led by its President, Sukubo Sara-Igbe Sukubo, at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.
The Vice President praised the council for supporting President Tinubu’s administration programme and activities.
He said the future of the nation belongs to youths, who constitute nearly 75 per cent of the population, adding that engaging them was crucial to creating a better future.
Shettima hailed the NYCN, which is set to mark its 60th anniversary in November, for its dedication to the Nigerian project.
Praising the council for supporting the programmes and activities of President Tinubu’s administration, he said: “We cannot thank you enough for keeping the hope alive for the Nigerian youth. We identify with you; we empathise with you because the future of this nation belongs to you.
“We are one of the youngest nations on the planet and the youths constitute nearly 75 per cent of our population. Once we engage the youths, once we give them hope for a better tomorrow, all the madness pervading this land will dissipate.
“Sixty years for an organisation to remain vibrant and still standing on its feet deserves commendation. I want to thank you for believing in the Nigeria Project. A lot of members of your generation have left the country but you resolved to stay on, and together we are going to salvage the ship of this state”.
Shettima said President Tinubu created a ministry for youths and appointed two young people to head the ministry, while he (Vice President) complemented this by appointing many young persons into key positions in his office.
Sukubo expressed the council’s readiness to collaborate with the Federal Government in addressing illegal oil bunkering.
“We have decided to see how we can help this country in areas of oil theft that have been ravaging this nation”.
“The NYCN has decided that it’s a collective effort, and we are ready to partner with the government to address this illegality,” he said.
Sukubo announced that the NYCN, which was established on 28 August 1964, in Lagos, was preparing to commemorate its 60th anniversary later in the year.
The NYCN president invited Shettima to officially unveil the anniversary events, which are expected to draw participants from across the country.
“This year, we are celebrating our 60th anniversary and we want you to officially unveil the anniversary events.
“The event will have no fewer than 100,000 participants across the country, and that is the day we want to give insight into the activities of this government”, Sukubo said.
The NYCN acknowledged the administration’s efforts at appointing many young persons to government positions and urged the Federal Government to build a Youth House.
