Today is a day set aside to celebrate youthfulness and its centrality to society and nation-building. A day to reflect on what was and prepare for what is to be. A day to look beyond the politicking and power tussles and critically look to the place of our youth in the future of our great nation.
Nigerian youths deserve to be commended and celebrated for their selfless services and contributions in all aspects of the economy and nation-building. The remarkable potentials of our young population across all sectors and spheres of human endeavor is undeniable as young Nigerians from time immemorial have always been driven by a relentless zeal to bring about epoch making innovations. Our history as a nation is built on the verve and excellence of youth. Our founding fathers achieved independence for Nigeria as young people.
In the same vein, there is no reason to doubt that it is the youths that shape the future of a country, because the development of every society rests solely on the capacity of the younger generation. This implies that for any modern society to progress, the youth must feature prominently in the scheme of things.
As we celebrate the International Youth Day, we must remind ourselves of the fact that the youths are our hope, and it is the responsibility of the leaders of today to secure their future by providing the necessary support and enabling environment for their development in the most decent and progressive way.
Conclusively, as we commemorate the energetic spirit of young people worldwide and their ability to improve the future of humanity, I want to urge the youths to rise up to the challenges of today and see themselves as the political, economic and social force that will bring the change Nigeria has been yearning for. This is non-negotiable.
Happy International Youth Day!
Signed:
COMRADE CHIGOZIE UDOGU
NATIONAL YOUTH LEADER
YOUNG PROGRESSIVES PARTY