Osinbajo Says ''Creative And Enthusiastic Nigerian Youths Can Energizse The Whole Nation

Next month a group of 30 young Nigerians with vibrant technology-based ideas and innovations would be welcomed to Aso Rock, reflective of the Buhari administration's appreciation of the enormous creativity among Nigerian youths.

Making the disclosure today, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, SAN also said the Buhari administration is aware that inspite of the advances in education and technology, inequality of access and opportunities still exists which the presidency wants to redress.

Speaking today while receiving the United Nations Special Envoy on Youth, Mr. Ahmad Alhendawi, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, Vice President Osinbajo eulogized Nigerian youth as being “very creative and are every where trying to make space for themselves.”

He announced that on September 2, the much talked about Aso Villa Demo Day would hold, hosting 30 young Nigerians who will pitch their innovative ideas at the Presidential Villa to a presidential audience including venture capitalists, investors and decision makers  in the ICT industry among other influential business groups and interests.

While disclosing that the 30 most innovative and talented young people where picked out of the several thousands of young Nigerians who participated in a competitive selection process, Prof. Osinbajo stated  “we are looking at a new generation of people who have the vision, who have a different way of thinking” and whose “energy and creativity,” will benefit the nation.

(Meanwhile, ahead of the Demo Day, a 2-day boot camp will hold for the selected 30 young Nigerians at the Ventures Platform Hub, Abuja from August 31 to September 1.)

"The youth enthusiasm in this country, their can-do spirit, their sheer force can energise the whole nation," according to the Vice President who added that he wont be surprised if more young people end up in top and key elected positions in the country.

However, he observed that inequality still exists on a global scale as there are still many who dont have access to education and don't even know about the advances in technology.

"Huge gaps and disparities still exist. So our concern is about creating more equality, more opportunity in education, to level the playing field so that more young people can get a clear chance in life," he stated.

Expressing concern about the humanitarian situation in the North-East, he said “the military is gradually winding down its activities and all that we have now is a humanitarian condition that have challenged particularly everything we have.”

He called for more concerted efforts from the international community in adddressing the humanitairn situation together with the Nigerian government, stressing that “insurgency is a major problem especially violent extremism and the consequences of it are so grave."

Earlier, the UN Special Envoy, Mr. Ahmed Alhendawi expressed his appreciation for the warm welcome for him and his delegation being his first visit to the country.  He said he was in the country to discuss with the UN Country Representatives on youth programs and advocated for a coordinated national youth policy pledging the support of the UN system in that regard. The envoy was joined for the visit by UN Country representatives from UNDP, UNFPA, UNICEF, ILO among others