Youth advised to be agents of positive transformation  

YOUTHS have been advised to do away with inordinate pursuit of material acquisition and begin to see themselves as agents of positive transformation in Nigeria.

The chairman of the Ansar-Ud-Deen Society of Nigeria (ADS), Akoka branch, Alhaji Bashiru Lawal, gave this advice while speaking on the “irresponsible behaviour” being exhibited by some youths in contemporary times at an event organised by the organisation to celebrate the 11th anniversary of the Ansar-Ud-Deen Youth Association of Nigeria (ADYAN) in Lagos, recently.

He implored parents not to let work hinder them from taking care of their children.

“We shouldn’t say it is the work of the teacher to train them because they are going to school. The work of teachers is not more than 50 per cent; the rest is up to the parents and they should guide the children properly so they would follow the right path religiously.

“We should not only teach our female children to be patient, the boys and young men should also learn to be patient. Everything that one is yet to attain, one will attain it eventually in abundance,” Lawal said.

He urged religious leaders to resist being seduced by money and weigh in with candid sermons to youths against sinful acts.

“If a wayward 25-year-old rides in a jeep and drops money, they should say something so that the young person would not consider what they are doing as something good. A 25-year-old that brings three jeeps and claims they want to do thanksgiving, what type of thanksgiving do they want to do. What exactly is your profession?” he added.

The ADS missioner for Ebute Metta branch, Malam Abdul Wahab Agbomeji, emphasised the need for peaceful coexistence among Nigerians, saying that no religion tolerates the exhibition of hostility towards others

“People cause trouble in the name of religion. They use religion as cover. Islam commands that you must be good to your neighbours, 40 houses to each of your sides (left, right, front and back). It is not stated that you must be good only to Muslims but people just want to use religion as a justification for their irresponsible actions,” Agbomeji noted.

He implored religious leaders not to twist the word of God but to say it as it is.

The chairman of the Ansar-Ud-Deen Youth Association of Nigeria (ADYAN), Mr AbdulRasaq Gbadamosi, advised youths to become responsible members of the society and implored the government to make the environment conducive to the development of young people.

“We are calling on government at all levels not relent in the effort towards tackling insecurity and other challenges facing the country and we pray Almighty God to heal our land for peace and stability to reign.

“We are also advocating improved provisions for youths, especially in the area of technology, for economic growth and development.”