Besides encouraging the entrepreneurial spirit among the Nigerian
youth, focus should also be on ensuring that young Nigerians are well-trained
in whatever discipline or professional calling they may chose, according to
Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, SAN.
While noting the importance of entrepreneurship, Prof. Osinbajo
said “we should emphasize training too, solid training. For whatever you are,
you can be the best in it... Building the very best minds should be the focus.”
According to him, “if you are a graduate of history, you should be
so well-trained to be the best historian,” the VP said during a research
presentation to him by Course 24 Participants of the National Defence College.
“I think we should bear in mind also that even if you are not an
entrepreneur, but you are competent in whatever your field of endeavour or
whatever your discipline is, if you are well-trained in any type of profession,
you are a major contributor to the GDP, you are a major contributor to the well
being of the society,” the VP declared.
While commending the participants for their research titled “Youth
Bulge in Nigeria: Implications for National Security,” Prof. Osinbajo added
that government would “still continue to maintain focus on very good solid
training so that whatever you are, you can contribute to the society.”
The presentation noted the significant youth population in the
country could be turned into a positive engine for national growth through
entrepreneurship. Captain O. A. Olodude, of the Nigerian Navy, who made the
presentation on behalf of Course 24 participants stated that if the youth are
not harnessed through schemes such as NYSC Entrepreneurial Scheme, training in
agriculture, ICT and others, to tackle unemployment, they would affect the
society negatively.
Earlier, the Commandant of the National Defence Collage and leader
of the delegation, Rear Admiral Samuel Alade, said the Course 24 has 130
Participants 7 of which are from other countries including Niger, Republic of
Benin, Ghana, Zambia and Sierra Leone. He revealed that the next course
will have participants from Germany, Turkey, Brazil and India. He stated
that in the 25 years of the Collage, this is the first research presentation of
its kind. Vice President Osinbajo, who promised to send the recommendations
of the research to relevant government agencies, has also been recognized
with the Distinguished Personality Award of the National
Defence Collage.
In another development, the Vice President received on behalf of
President Muhammadu Buhari a delegation from the government of Guinea Bissau
led by Prime Minister Baciro Dja. The Prime Minister came as a Special Envoy of
President Jose Mairo Vaz of Guinea Bissau to deliver a special message.
Vice President Osinbajo commended the government of Guinea Bissau
for its constitutional and peaceful management of the country’s affairs noting
that “at the end of the day the whole purpose of government is to help the
people not to harm them in the process of political conflict."
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