Nigeria has called for youth empowerment and their active participation in innovative technology.
The nation’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama, speaking on Wednesday at the 19th Council of Ministers Meeting of the D-8 virtually held, said: “Youth empowerment and their active participation in innovative technology are essential for attaining much-needed development.”
He said given the fast pace of development in the 4th Industrial Revolution (4IR), the need for the organisation (D-8) to invest more in and equip its young generation for the future had become imperative.
Addressing the other Ministers of Foreign Affairs of D-8, an organisation for Economic Cooperation, also known as Developing-8, established for development co-operation among eight developing countries of Bangladesh, Egypt, Indonesia, Iran, Malaysia, Nigeria, Pakistan, and Turkey, Onyeama said: “We must create the space to put the youth in the driving seat of innovation and creativity. We must leverage on the existing platform of the D-8 Network of Pioneers for Research and Innovation (NPRI) to train and develop our young digital entrepreneurs.
“We must also prioritize improving access to vocational training and providing greater incentives for our young people.”
He noted that the theme of the meeting: “Partnership for a Transformative World: Harnessing the Power of Youth and Technology,” was in tandem with their Decennial Roadmap for development, and if fully implemented, will go a long way in assisting member States to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals.
He said today’s meeting offers an opportunity for taking stock of progress made since the last meeting in Antalya, Turkey, in 2018, and tow the path for a better future for the organisation.
He said: “I am particularly delighted that this Council, during its last meeting in 2018, prioritized the importance of healthcare and social well-being of our citizens, among other things, which led to the establishment of the Health and Social Protection Programme Office in Abuja, Nigeria.
“We are grateful and honoured that you found Nigeria worthy of hosting this very important office.”
He said: “This initiative has undoubtedly created a platform for member states to respond swiftly to the current health emergencies by sharing best practices among member states. In this connection, I wish to urge member states to support the Office and its programmes to enable it to adequately respond to the health and social welfare of our people.”
Onyeama said for the organisation to truly become a major actor in the global economic system, “there is a need for us to support and lift one another to the upper rungs of economic development. Nigeria believes that for us to develop together, technology and best practices must be genuinely shared between and among our member countries.
“We should fully utilize the D-8 Technology Transfer and Exchange Network (TTEN) platform to promote sustainable development.”
He added that: “In our pursuit of more robust multilateral engagements for mutual development, trade plays a pivotal role. However, to improve our citizens’ welfare and create new opportunities in the bloc, we must bolster productive capacity that will attract investment and enhance commercial cooperation. We must also endeavour to remove trade barriers and implement existing agreements on trade facilitation.
“The importance of agricultural production and food security as vehicles for our national stability is central to our poverty eradication drive. We therefore, need to do more in promoting food security and reducing poverty through sustainable agricultural development.
“The organisation must leverage on agro-allied opportunities through the transfer of technology and modern equipment. Nigeria urges that all impediments associated with the acquisition and transfer of agricultural implements to member states should be removed for ease of trade facilitation.”
Onyeama sought support for Ambassador Isiaka Abdulqadir Imam, Nigeria’s nominee for the post of the Secretary-General of the organisation to replace Ambassador Dato’ Ku Jaafar Ku Shaari, whose tenure expires in December, this year.
Stay ahead with the latest updates! Join The ConclaveNG on WhatsApp and Telegram for real-time news alerts, breaking stories, and exclusive content delivered straight to your phone. Don’t miss a headline — subscribe now!
