MacArthur Foundation has urged Nigerian youths to mobilise their energy and commitment towards the success of 2023 general elections and the development of the country.
The Foundation’s Country Director, Dr Kole Shettima, gave the advice while delivering his keynote address at the two-day Mandela Washington Fellowship Alumni Association of Nigeria (MWFAAN) LEAD ON conference 2022 in Abuja, on Friday.
According to him, the energy, creativity and passion young people have for the county could be channeled not just as protest but development courses.
He said: “I think they were able to mobilize a lot of resources, resources in terms of networks, resources in terms of people who came out and demonstrated, and they have shown that they can actually organize themselves.
“I think the challenge now is what do we do beyond the Endsars protest? How do we engage in a civic, public service way? Those energies that were brought in, whether in terms of the money that we raised, the network that were established. How do we use those networks in order to channel it towards public service, towards civil engagement? And what difference can that actually have on the country and other things?
“That is for me the most important story about EndSARS itself. About its own potential to be a change agent for our country.”
Shettima, who said the foundation since 1989 had invested not less than $200m in Nigeria, added that the foundation was committed to working in partnership with the country towards the success of the 2023 general elections.
He also listed some of the areas the foundation was working on to achieve that to include working with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to make the elections credible, engaging young people to register, collect their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) and come out and vote on the day of election.
Shettima urged government, philanthropists and developmental organisations to invest more in education, healthcare system, slow down the country fertility rate as well as create economic opportunity for the youth.
He said the measures were important to make Nigerian youth, who constituted over 70 percent of the country’s population a demographic dividend, and not a burden or disaster.
He said, “We are a youthful country in the sense that about 70 per cent of our population, the median age is 18.1. So, this is a youthful country.
“This youthful age can be a dividend, which means it can be of benefit and profitable for people or it can be a disaster for itself.”
Shettima said that while everyone including the government and philanthropists and groups need to invest in those areas that would impact the youth, the government needed to take the lead role.
He commended the rate at which Nigerian youth across the world were making impact and progress in the area of sports, entertainment technology development, innovations, civil and public space and services
He, however, advised Nigeria youth to develop passion for something developmental, get soft skills, get prepared for opportunities, take the risk, and get involved in what would have a positive impact on others peoples lives.
Speaking earlier, the President of the MWFAAN, Ahmed Adetola-Kazeem, said the Mandela Washington Fellowship (MWF), which was established by former President Barrack Obama in 2014, has the potential to impact on the unity and development of Nigeria.
Adetola-Kazeem said that the fellowship provides outstanding young leaders from Sub-Saharan Africa with the opportunity to hone their skills at a U.S. higher education institution with support for professional development after they return home.
He said, “The Institutes focus on leadership and skills development in one of three tracks: Business, Civic Engagement, or Public Management.
“Over 500 Nigerian Fellows, who have established records of accomplishment in promoting innovation and positive impact in their organizations, institutions, communities, and countries have passed through this Fellowship.”
Adetola-Kazeem said the theme of the conference, ‘Leading Through Adversity’ was carefully chosen, to discuss the challenges of the pandemic and global recession and strategies young vibrant leaders needed to adopt to rise above these challenges.
Also, a fellow, Esther Mark-Nathaniel, said being a fellow of the Mandela Washington Fellowship had helped her to improve her life, networking, her life, impacting more on people and the society.
She urged young Nigerians to take advantage of the fellowship saying, “If you think you are a committed person, compassionate, coexistence, deliberate person, please do apply for the Mandela Washington Fellowship Program. It is one opportunity that has the tremendous capacity of blowing you up. Functioning as the Communications and Marketing Secretary of the association, I can tell you that the fellowship itself comes with tremendous benefits.”
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