The Vice Chancellor of Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba Akoko (AAUA) Ondo state, Prof. Olugbenga Ige, has identified youth empowerment as the key to the development of a nation, saying empowering youth is crucial for sustainable development.
The Vice-Chancellor stated this in Akure, Ondo state capital, during the 40th birthday colloquium lecture of the Founder of Fortune Pest Solution, Ayodeji Oluleye, with the theme ‘Youths leadership and Entrepreneurship.
He called on government at all levels to be committed towards empowering of youths across the country saying empowering them was a key to ensuring the development and prosperity of Nigeria.
Ige who was represented by the University Deputy Vice Chancellor, Professor Olusegun Akinwumi, noted that the youth of the country were capable enough to transform the country’s fate through entrepreneurial skills.
According to him, with hard work and dedication, Nigeria could develop faster and take its rightful position among the comity of nations in terms of economic development and prosperity maintaining that youth empowerment is the key to the development of a nation.
“For youth empowerment programme to fulfil its purpose and be rewarding, it should be directed towards developing the right leadership and entrepreneurship skills among the youth.
“It is obvious that leadership and entrepreneurship are intertwined concepts. For an individual to succeed as an entrepreneur in the Nigeria of today, talents are not enough.
“There should be youth empowerment, individual also has to possess and exhibit the right leadership skills to plan, manage and control available resources towards achieving success.
“More than before, government agencies and partners on youth development should advocate for policies that support youth entrepreneurship and leadership development.
“Such policies should be designed towards creating a conducive regulatory environment, reducing bureaucratic hurdles for startups, and offering incentives such as tax breaks and grants for youth-led businesses.
“A platform should be created to provide seamless access to resources such as funding, mentorship, and networking opportunities to support youth-led startups and business ventures.
“Incubators, accelerators, and innovation hubs should be established in strategic zones all over the country for young entrepreneurs to receive guidance, mentorship, and funding to launch and scale their businesses.
“Government agencies, NGOs, private sector organizations, educational institutions and corporate individuals should forge partnerships to leverage resources and expertise in implementing youth empowerment programmes.
“Experience from successive youth empowerment programmes initiated in the past has shown that government alone cannot do it. In this regard, government and its relevant institutions can collaborate with industry leaders to provide mentorship, internship opportunities, and access to markets for young entrepreneurs.”
Speaking, a youth leader and security expert, John Akinmurele, noted that there is a need to create an enabling environment for youths to encourage and motivate them to contribute to the nation’s development.
“There is a need to create an enabling environment for youths to come up with their potential. Youths are energetic, creative, and full of dynamism, but there is a need for us to plug that energy into them.
“Government must create youth-friendly policies, Nigeria is good with policies but making these policies work is the issue.
“There should be a grant for young entrepreneurs to start a business, our government need to be on top of this matter, youth inclusion in Governance is not bad,” he said.
Speaking during the event is also the founder of fortune pest solution, who is the celebrant and convener of the colloquium, Oluleye, said he aimed to give back to society through the program.
“The only best way I think I can celebrate myself is to give back to society, to encourage entrepreneurship, to give words of leadership.
“I want the young people to be better, that’s why I am celebrating my birthday in this direction.
“In giving back to society, I have done the fumigation of so many schools, before now we have carried out entrepreneurship Programs in some community grammar Schools, where we donated over 200 students educational material, today we will also be distributing mosquito control products because that is my call area.”
Some notable personalities at the colloquium include the Deji of Akure, Oba Aladetoyinbo Aladetusi, Kayode Ajulo, the commissioner for justice among other dignitaries.
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