A future Buhari/Osinbajo Presidency shall focus critically on investment and human capital development agenda of the youth population. It is very disheartening that just in 2013, the world bank announced that an estimated 100 Million Nigerians mainly in the youth bracket, have been tied into the vicious grip of poverty.

China, at about same time, following institutionalisation of stringent economic policies, pulled  about 600 million of her population out of the misery of poverty. It is obvious that economic agenda somersault  of the PDP led administration is responsible for the above sad development. The PDP continuity campaign mantra therefore is a prescription for disaster. Change now is imperative!

It is even more worrisome  that the PDP-led government in Nigeria managed the affairs of this country during most of the period in question. PDP government lacks youth-friendly policy that can enhance chances of our youth population to attend same developmental global index as their colleagues elsewhere. How then can they compete favourably with other youth from across the globe?

The Millennium Development Goal (MDG) indicators that is set to expire this year has shown the abysmal failure of Nigeria under a clueless and inept PDP-led administration of President Goodluck Jonathan. A cursory look at the global indices for growth and development as it relates to Nigerian Youth is shocking. World Bank records indicate that despite our rebased economy as the biggest in Africa, our youth population hold the highest global average of 70% proportion of the total youth population living below $1/day. Consequently, we are unfortunately closely followed in same group by Democratic Republic of Congo at 66.6%. Indonesia that had  lower GDP than Nigeria in late seventies is at a mere 7.7% although their current population is much higher than that of  Nigeria.

Global community as a routine, evaluates its progress and follows up with opportunities. A recent Global Youth Wellbeing Index Ranking revealed Australia as being in the first position among thirty countries which represented 70% of the world population. Sweden came   second while Ghana, our next door neighbor, made the 21st position. It is very sad to observe that Nigeria, the biggest economy in Africa, ranked last among these thirty countries at, yes, 30th position.

The above scenario unequivocally, is a fertile ground for an unproductive economy and social unrest, the twin evil our nation is presently challenged with. An APC Youth-centered administration under General Mohammadu Buhari, cannot afford to ignore this ugly picture as the youth of a nation represent its future.

The UN often uses poverty gap ratio as an indicator to measure the poverty level of countries. An assessment of African countries with highest poverty gap ratio placed Nigeria in the third position of 34.9%, Central African Republic (CAR)  38.1 % is second and Mali  at 37.4%  is ranked  first. While countries with low poverty gap ratio showcased Ghana at 17% , Namibia 14% and Cameroon with the lowest poverty gap ratio of 11.8%. The above world bank and UN estimates clearly makes it evident that interest of Nigerian youth during the 16 years of PDP misrule were highly misplaced.

APC-led government under General Muhammadu Buhari, if voted into power is set to  rescue our teeming youth population from this vicious circle of poverty. The Buhari/Osinbajo ticket under the prevailing circumstance offers the only hope that must be tapped into by all Nigerian youth in order to safeguard and improve their lot.

The Buhari/ Osinbajo ticket shall precisely treat our youth as a priority group. They will be supported to acquire skills that will give them a fair chance in the labour market. They will receive the support and guidance they deserve to reach their full potentials and unveil their manifest destiny instead of the current directionless ineptitude infested lifestyle forced upon them by a clueless government that has no direction itself.

Actually, our youth requires the crucial platform to unleash their ideas and flourishing ingenuity on the crest of  their dynamic entrepreneurial zeal. A future Buhari/Osinbajo Presidency youth rescue agenda will enable Nigerian youth become the centre stage for a new Nigeria project by addressing the following issues amongst others:
1)?Mitigation of the crisis and rot in the education sector
2)?Human capital development enhancement.
3)?Youth purpose specific empowerment schemes segmented into (
a) Promotion of youth enterprise development and self-employment.
(b ) Programs that will promote labour intensive public works requiring more hands in heavy infrastructure such as roads, rails etc.
4)?Gender sensitivity in policy programming and proclamation.
5)?De-criminalization of the street urchins and gangsters and re-integration which will include structured educational plans and apprenticeship schemes
6). ?Youth Citizenship promotion.
7). ?Investment in more research on youth matters.
8)?. Increase in policy integration and effective implementation.
9). Deployment  of  a strong political template  geared towards  simultaneous addressing of all issues facing our youth today .
10). Strengthening  of the offices of  traditional institutions and royal fathers  as  custodians of local cultural values needed for the planned massive  cultural reorientation of the society .

The enabling environment for youthful expression shall therefore be provided by an APC-led government that is not only able but willing to chart the course for a youth-focused agenda in a Safe and secured new Nigeria anchored on integrity and transparency.

Dr. CHIDIA  MADUEKWE
Head; Media Publicity & ICT.
BUHARI SUPPORT ORGANIZATIONS.
January 15th 2015