A former Minister of Education, Oby Ezekwesili, says Nigeria’s greatness will emerge through human capital development programmes for youths and not oil or solid minerals.
Ezekwesili said this in Abuja at “ SHIFT,’’ an annual youth programme of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG).
The SHIFT initiative uses unconventional ways such as dancing, singing, comedy, innovation and empowerment that youths could relate with to become Christians.
The programme, which attracted youths from the FCT, Plateau, Niger as well as Kaduna and Nasarawa States, had its theme as ‘Creativity Unleashed’.
She said such programmes would give youths the platform to showcase their hidden talents that needed to be unleashed and unlocked.
The former minister, however, advocated that youths should be supported through public policy, right instructions and investment in education, health and other social services.
According to her, supporting youths will enable them to acquire skills needed for self-reliance.
“The more we emphasise education, talents, diligence, values, the more we have youths that can face competition with the rest of the world.
“Youths are the present leaders of the country; if we don’t prepare them to become people who are able to actualise their utmost potentials, what happens will affect them,’’ she said.
The National Youth Minister of RCCG, Pastor Precious Akingbade, urged youths to discover, develop and deploy their creativity to profitable ventures.
Akingbade advised them not to wait for the Federal Government to provide jobs for them when they could enroll in skills acquisition programmes.
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