As Nigeria joins the rest of the world to observe this year’s International Youth Day, traditional ruler in Otumara community in the Lagos Mainland Local Government of Lagos State, Chief Kehinde Kalejaiye, has called on government at all levels to prioritise youth welfare and create conducive platforms for them to thrive.
Kalejaiye, who made the call at an event to commemorate this year’s International Youth Day, stated that Nigerian youths are in a dilemma and are faced with uncertainties.
According to him, millions of youths are turned out of universities, polytechnics and colleges across the country every year but only a fraction of the number are able to be gainfully employed.
He stated that out of frustration and poverty, many of them go into crimes and other forms of illegalities to earn a living.
“I congratulate the youth of this country on this year’s International Youth Day celebration. I pray that their essence and aspirations would be fulfilled in the name of the most high God. As the world celebrates, I want to call the attention of the three tiers of government to the plight of youths in the country.
“They are in a dilemma and are faced with difficult choices in the face of lack of opportunities. The law forbids them from going into crimes yet the government did not create conducive environment for them to thrive.
“Every year, millions of our youth graduate from the universities, polytechnics and colleges but they roam the street without any meaningful thing to do with their lives.
“As much as there is no justification for crimes, I want the Federal and state governments to create employment for our youths as this will deter them from going into crime and cultism,” he said.
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