By Stanley Onyekwere
The FCT Minister of State, Dr. Ramatu Tijjani Aliyu, has called for more engagement of youth in the system of governance in the human society, for the attainment of sustainable growth and development.
Aliyu particularly stressed the need for the engagement of youth by making local, national and global institutions more inclusive for the purpose of strengthening their capacity to achieve global action.
She noted that the participation of the youth in socioeconomic activities cannot be over emphasized considering their very exception initiatives and creating a digital economy.
The Minister spoke yesterday, through her Special Assistant on Social Development Secretariat (SDS), Simisola Ayoade at a Youth Conference Themed: ‘Youth engagement for global action’, organised by the SDS to mark this year’s International Youth Day, in Abuja.
According to her: “The vast majority of challenges humanity is currently facing require concerted global action and the meaningful engagement and participation of young people for effective solution.
“The role of youth in development is however imperative for the actualisation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Considering their energy, creativity and innovations, that can change their life styles and entire nation.
“It is therefore worthy of note that our youth should be engaged positively regardless of the challenges of unemployment, poverty and the COVID-19 pandemic.
She used the opportunity to encourage FCT youth to participate in the development of the FCT to set the pace for actualization of the global agenda.
Similarly, Director of FCT Youth Development Department, Hajarat Alayande, who represented the Acting Secretary of SDS, Dr. Felicia Nwogu, noted that a lot of our young people have re-strategised for effective economic development.
She noted that the FCT Administration marked the day with the youth conference, whereby various stakeholders made presentations on youth engagement in sustainable community development; and youth rebranding for effective leadership.
“We need to sensitise our young people to engage in community development, in volunteerism. They have to be ready to serve their communities, and in doing so, they would be able to recognise the rich resources within their environment.
“Our young people must be morally sound and effective for them to engage successfully in any global action,” she reiterated.
