As Nigeria marks its 66th Independence anniversary, a student of Bayero University Kano, Onono Onimisi Rafatu, has identified insecurity, unemployment, poor access to quality education and the rising cost of living as major challenges confronting Nigerians, particularly young people.
Rafatu spoke with Peoples Daily as part of activities marking Nigeria’s 66th Independence anniversary.
She said her biggest concern was the difficulty many Nigerians faced in living decent lives.
According to her, the situation had made it increasingly difficult for young Nigerians to secure jobs, access quality education and afford basic necessities.
She urged the government to put citizens at the centre of governance by implementing policies capable of improving education, creating jobs and expanding opportunities for young people.
Rafatu also called for measures to make basic necessities more affordable, stressing that government policies should directly improve the living conditions of Nigerians.
Despite the challenges, she said she remained optimistic about Nigeria’s future because of the resilience, talent and determination of its young population.
She said responsible leadership and the creation of the right opportunities could harness the energy and potential of Nigerian youths to transform the country.
“Although Nigeria, at 66, still has much work to do, its story is still being written,” she said.
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