By Lucky Barth, Abuja.
Issues related to the development of the Nigerian youth through the implementation of government policies was the main trust of a webinar tagged 2020 Big Ideas Podium
The theme of the 2020 Big Ideas Podium was on #EndSars Protest; Rethinking Nigerian Youth and Government Policies.
The Big Ideas Podium organised by African Heritage Institution, Enugu, provided the opportunity and window to address such issues.
It was a gathering of intellectuals, trying in their usual way of brainstorming to find a solution to a problem.
The Executive Director, AfriHeritage, Professor Ufo Okeke Uzodike, said the programme convened once every year, usually provided platform for positive engagement and deliberations on strategies the government could adopt to circumvent such problems.
He explained that the this year’s podium focussed on youths because they form the bedrock of the #EndSars Protest, which is a social movement against alleged police brutality in Nigeria.
“The mass demonstrations, which occurred across major cities in Nigeria, accompanied by outrage on social media platforms, called for the disbandment of the Special Anti Robbery Squad(SARS).”
According to Prof. Okeke Uzodike, ” to ensure optimal development, the youths need to grow and operate in an environment that not only shields them from abuse, violence and discrimination, but also allows them to enjoy fundamental human rights.”
Therefore, it is safe to say that a country with no youth agenda would have no future.
“Not surprisingly, the youths are legitimately regarded not only as future leaders, but also as the bulwark for a country whose growth and prosperity is inextricably connected to youth development” the Prof elucidated.
“The youths are one of the greatest assets any nation can have, because they are often the drivers and harbingers for transformative social change in well organised societies.
Nigeria has one of the largest youth population in the world according to World Economic Forum, 2019.
