Jumoke Adekanye
According to Vanguard, Former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar has recommended that poverty reduction and provision of employment are the only ways to solve Nigeria’s economic and social problem.
He said “to ask our leaders and ourselves how can Nigeria grow and the country continue to decline. Nigeria’s unemployment rate has continued to rise, currently estimated at a staggering 27 per cent, with youth unemployment hovering around 55 per cent. There is much that we can do to alleviate the stresses caused by population growth and unemployment.’’
“First, the core of the issue begins with our education system, which has struggled to provide a quality education that would prepare our youth for the needs of our economy.
“Secondly, there has not been enough emphasis on infrastructural projects that could employ both skilled and unskilled labour, as well as rejuvenate local economies. Thirdly, a coordinated effort by the government and the private sector to develop long-term projects, where labourers could be retrained to the needs of the project, would greatly impact the quality of life for Nigerians and grow the country’s human capital.”
He added that at this time in our history, ‘’Nigeria needs inspiration, hope and a change in consciousness that emphasizes hard work, accountability, trust and a long-term vision for the future. It is absolutely vital that this change be instituted at the top, whereby our leadership becomes the example that can be emulated nationwide.
“Indeed, by focusing on poverty reduction Nigeria can also confront the momentum for terrorism and criminality. Disenfranchised youth and marginalized populations are prime targets for recruitment into terrorist activity.
“If Nigeria can manage to reincorporate these populations through education, job training and the guarantee of a liveable income, we will see fewer people looking to criminality for a meal and a sense of security. In turn, the overall security of the nation will improve.’’