Next month a group of 30 young
Nigerians with vibrant technology-based ideas and innovations would be welcomed
to Aso Rock, reflective of the Buhari administration's appreciation of the
enormous creativity among Nigerian youths.
Making the disclosure today, Vice
President Yemi Osinbajo, SAN also said the Buhari administration is aware that
inspite of the advances in education and technology, inequality of access and
opportunities still exists which the presidency wants to redress.
Speaking today while receiving the
United Nations Special Envoy on Youth, Mr. Ahmad Alhendawi, at the Presidential
Villa, Abuja, Vice President Osinbajo eulogized Nigerian youth as being “very
creative and are every where trying to make space for themselves.”
He announced that on September 2,
the much talked about Aso Villa Demo Day would hold, hosting 30 young Nigerians
who will pitch their innovative ideas at the Presidential Villa to a presidential
audience including venture capitalists, investors and decision makers in
the ICT industry among other influential business groups and interests.
While disclosing that the 30 most
innovative and talented young people where picked out of the several thousands
of young Nigerians who participated in a competitive selection process, Prof.
Osinbajo stated “we are looking at a new generation of people who
have the vision, who have a different way of thinking” and whose “energy and
creativity,” will benefit the nation.
(Meanwhile, ahead of the Demo Day, a
2-day boot camp will hold for the selected 30 young Nigerians at the Ventures
Platform Hub, Abuja from August 31 to September 1.)
"The youth enthusiasm in this
country, their can-do spirit, their sheer force can energise the whole
nation," according to the Vice President who added that he wont be
surprised if more young people end up in top and key elected positions in the
country.
However, he observed that inequality
still exists on a global scale as there are still many who dont have access to
education and don't even know about the advances in technology.
"Huge gaps and disparities
still exist. So our concern is about creating more equality, more opportunity
in education, to level the playing field so that more young people can get a
clear chance in life," he stated.
Expressing concern about the
humanitarian situation in the North-East, he said “the military is gradually
winding down its activities and all that we have now is a humanitarian
condition that have challenged particularly everything we have.”
He called for more concerted efforts
from the international community in adddressing the humanitairn situation
together with the Nigerian government, stressing that “insurgency is a major
problem especially violent extremism and the consequences of it are so
grave."
Earlier, the UN Special Envoy, Mr.
Ahmed Alhendawi expressed his appreciation for the warm welcome for him and his
delegation being his first visit to the country. He said he was in the
country to discuss with the UN Country Representatives on youth programs and
advocated for a coordinated national youth policy pledging the support of the
UN system in that regard. The envoy was joined for the visit by UN Country
representatives from UNDP, UNFPA, UNICEF, ILO among others
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