By Osamede Aghedo.

The choice by the United Nations to mark the 2019 International Youth Day with the theme: “Transforming Education”, highlights effort towards making Education more relevant, equitable, and inclusive for all youths.

Mr Gideon Ikhine made the call in commemoration of the International Youth Day, celebrated by the United Nations and its partners across the globe, on August 12, each year.

Understanding of the damaging effects of out of School Children and youth unemployment, which have grown rapidly in recent years, with Nigeria contributing 10.5 million out of Schools Children to global index, has become a wake up call for re-evaluation.

Even though primary education is officially free and compulsory in Nigeria; Statiscal.com recent survey revealed that 13.2 percent of Nigerian youths are unemployed.

But, as an industrialist, this is not an excuses for failed leadership, but, a call to duty and action.

Progress requires the harder path of breaking down barriers and building bridges as well as standing up towards resolving Africa problems.

This year’s International Youth Day, once again, is a call for action, global support on building capacity development for youths to help them realise the potentials.

I humbly call on Nigerians at home and diaspora to remain good ambassadors of the nation and our leaders. For Nigeria to overcome its myriads of challenges, our leaders should shun jerk-kneel response to our problems and invest in our youths as well as create platforms in which youths can aggregate, engage, contribute the development of our nations.

Long live Nigeria!
Long live Edo State!!
Long live Nigeria youth!!!

Gideon Ikhine