The FCT Minister of State Dr. Ramatu Tijjina Aliyu has urged youths in the Federal Capital Territory to be part of political processes in Nigeria.
The minister who spoke during an interactive session with the FCT youths as part of activities to commemorate International Youth Day also identified the youth as an instrument of nation-building.
Speaking on the sub-theme: “The Role of Youths in Peaceful Elections”, Aliyu used the occasion to task youths to shun political thuggery, and take advantage of President Muhammadu Buhari’s policies to better their lives.
She recalled that her last interaction with the youths during the COVID 19 pandemic yielded positive results that were celebrated across the Federal Capital Territory.
The minister also noted that as the greatest resource of any nation it is not possible to leave the youths out of government business, just as she called on the youths to take advantage of various policies provided by the Federal Government.
Aliyu added that the incumbent government has provided quite a handful of programs aimed to better the lives of the youths, and shaping them towards governance and becoming leaders.
She, however, emphasized that the Federal Capital Territory Administration has cascaded these policies down through the Social Development Secretariat, Agriculture and Rural Development Secretariat, and the Health and Human Services Secretariat to ensure that the youths are engaged.
According to her, “You need to take charge but you cannot without information, you cannot be responsible without education, without acquisition of skills and knowledge.
“What is an election without peace? An election is supposed to be a process through which leaders evolve. But how do we participate in the process of these elections or selections if we are not card-carrying members of any political party if we do not own our PVC? This PVC is your ticket to weed out any incompetent leader.
“The role of the youths in peaceful elections transcends beyond going to cast your vote, you must put up the very best conduct that will lead to a peaceful emergence of a leader.
“When we say the strength of every economy, the strength of every government, the strength of every country is domicile with the youths is not a joke but the strength is not to be missed.
“I urge you all today that the role you have to play in particular is to shun political thuggery and embrace peace”.
Earlier, the Mandate Secretary FCT Social Development Secretariat, Hajia Hadiza M. Kabir, noted that this year’s theme was in continuation of the United Nations’ pursuit of the Sustainable Development Goals taking cognizance of the fact that the world needs to leverage the full potential of all generation.
The Federal Capital Territory Administration is committed to the advancement of youths to position them adequately as drivers of a sustainable economy, this is reflected in the numerous youth empowerment activities and infrastructural developments being implemented by the various SDAs in the FCT Administration.
