Former president of Nigeria, Olusegun Obasanjo has said youth are “game changers” in fostering growth and democratic power in Africa.
Gatekeepers News reports that Obasanjo stated this on Monday during the inauguration of a USAID adolescent empowerment project advisory group in Lagos State, Southwest Nigeria.
He said: “For a country to have peace, security, and stability, the youth must have education, empowerment opportunities, employment, and a life of their own. Anything we are doing no matter how small to empower the youth, enlighten the youth, to give hope to the youth – will support our community, society and continent and our world.”
In his speech, President Obasanjo mentioned conversations he had with other African leaders in The Gambia and Kenya both of whom recognized the importance of engaging youth within their countries.
He said he would share some of the principles and activities of the USAID Youth-Powered Ecosystem to Advance Urban Adolescent Health project (YPE4AH) with other African leaders interested in engaging youth in their countries.
USAID’s YPE4AH project provides life skills courses, sexual and reproductive health services, and apprenticeship opportunities to disadvantaged youth in Kano and Lagos from a holistic human capital perspective.
The project, implemented by DAI and partners, have created multiple Youth Hubs within the two states, which act as safe spaces and a vehicle for delivering health information and services, referrals, leadership courses, life skills opportunities for healthy living and future planning, mentorship, workforce readiness to address socioeconomic determinants of adolescent health and provide areas for play and relaxation.
The Project Advisory Group inauguration also featured speeches and key appearances from the Lagos State Government, youth champions, adolescent representatives from the project’s youth advisory committee, and renowned celebrities.
Gbenga Adeyinka, an award-winning Nigerian actor, comedian, and presenter attended the event and gave a speech targeted at adolescents on How to be who you want to be.
Adeyinka and other celebrities, according to a statement made available, will continue to act as youth empowerment advocates throughout the life of the project, to encourage youth to attend life skills courses, pursue job opportunities and education.
