…TASKS GOVT, PRIVATE SECTOR ON JOB CREATION FOR YOUTHS
Ekiti State Governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, has advocated “a comprehensive national response” to win the battle against insurgency, banditry, kidnapping and all forms of security challenges afflicting the polity.
He also called for massive investment in public health, nutrition, education, promotion of partnerships for affordable housing, food security, potable water and creation of enabling environment to put opportunities for skills acquisition and gainful employment for the youth to reduce violent crimes in the Land.
Dr. Fayemi, who is also the Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, spoke as the guest lecturer at the 2022 Murtala Muhammed Foundation Memorial Lecture held at the Shehu Musa Yar’ Adua Centre in Abuja on Monday.
The lecture was organized to mark the 46th anniversary of the assassination of former Head of State, Gen. Murtala Muhammed.
Delivering a lecture titled “Beyond Boko Haram: Addressing Insurgency, Banditry and Kidnapping Across Nigeria,” Dr. Fayemi said concerted efforts must be put into the fight against security challenges which have extended its tentacles to all nooks and crannies of the country.
He said that the spate of insecurity has been aggravated by the large scale kidnapping in the North West which has snowballed into a national crisis.
“The boundaries of contemporary national insecurity have been further enlarged by the emergence and expansion of an industry in kidnapping that has overwhelmed an important swathe of northwestern Nigeria and graduated into the status of a national pandemic.”
Extolling the virtues of the late Gen. Muhammed, Dr. Fayemi noted that although the former Nigerian leader was in office for a very short time, he made a lasting impacts and embodied the lesson which all public office holders must always be reminded of.
He said: “For my generation of Nigerians, the late General Muhammad was not only a charismatic leader whose decisive, no-nonsense, business unusual style captured our youthful imagination.
He has also over the years remained an uncommon example of public service through the uncompromising commitment he displayed to the pursuit of the common good.
“As with most other Nigerians, the deep regret which we felt was that he did not rule long enough to personally complete the task of national rebirth which he and his colleagues had defined for themselves at the time he came to power. Still, he earned his place in our hearts and in the pantheon of our national heroes.
“Murtala Muhammed successfully re-ignited hope in a post-civil war Nigeria that we can as a people aspire to new and greater heights to occupy our rightful place in dignity as a leader in the comity of nations. Such was the impact he had in so short a period of time and that memory of his time with us remains so fresh and evergreen. May his soul continue to Rest In Peace, Amen.”
Dr. Fayemi noted that Nigeria had grappled with various forms of security problems and criminalities including armed robbery, militancy, vandalism of oil pipelines and hostage taking, ethno-religious killings which had recently exacerbated with insurgency, kidnapping and banditry.
The Governor explained that the security challenges facing the country should not be seen as problems of particular geopolitical zones but as a national issue which all Nigerians, including the leaders and the led must join hands together to tackle to restore confidence in the polity.
Fayemi identified sustained job creation as a panacea to youth involvement in criminal activities and susceptibility of being indoctrinated and conscripted into antisocial organisations to wreak havoc on their fatherland.
He suggested that government, private sector and non-governmental organisations must be involved in the task.
Dr. Fayemi said: “If an all-encompassing social compact has become an urgent imperative in our quest to look beyond Boko Haram towards an all-round national rebirth, it must go without saying that we have to pay special attention to employment creation on a mass scale so that our bid for socio-economic progress can stand a chance of being achieved.
“I am here particularly concerned as you about the role which employment can play in helping the burgeoning army of young Nigerians to build character, enhance personal dignity, eschew crime, lead innovation, and sustain hope for a better future whilst contributing productively to the development of the nation.
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