By Christiana Ekpa
The Speaker of the House of Representatives Rt. Hon. Abbas Tajudeen, Ph.D, has said the government must consider how its policies, programmes, and budgets affect the youths being one of the major drivers of development.
Speaker Abbas said the youth, as leaders of tomorrow, should be empowered, nurtured, and motivated for the leadership roles they are about to take. He, however, stated that young Nigerians should also be willing to take leadership responsibilities.
The Speaker said this while declaring open a Youth Town Hall on the 2025 Budget at the National Assembly Abuja on Monday.
It was the second in the series of engagements between the Speaker and Nigerian youths, the first being on July 31.
While noting that the importance of the engagement could not be overstated, Speaker Abbas recalled that at the first Youth Town Hall, he promised to institutionalise regular engagement with the youth, being “our nation’s young people.”
He said: “This gathering highlights the vital role of your voice in shaping the future of our nation. It acknowledges that you, the youth of Nigeria, are not just the leaders of tomorrow but active participants in the governance and development of today.
“Your energy, creativity, and resilience are transforming every sector of our society, from agriculture to technology, arts, sports, and entrepreneurship. Across these fields, you demonstrate that Nigerian youth can achieve greatness with the right support and opportunities.
“Yet, we must ask ourselves: how can you do even more? How can we, as leaders, create an enabling environment that allows your potential to flourish fully? This dialogue is, therefore, so important to explore how government policies, budgets, and programmes can better support you in taking your rightful place as drivers of national development.”
The Speaker said all the stakeholders at the town hall must also discuss a critical subject that affects not just your future but the very future of our nation: leadership recruitment.
