Youths are encouraged to engage in dialogue and collaborate positively with the government amidst plans for a nationwide hunger protest on August 1, says Titilope Gbadamosi, the Special Assistant to President Bola Tinubu on Youth Initiatives, Monitoring, and Delivery.
Gbadamosi’s appeal was made during a youth stakeholders engagement in Abeokuta, Ogun State capital, where she stressed the importance of utilizing various government initiatives to tackle youth challenges.
She highlighted key programs such as the Grassroot Youths Entrepreneurship Scheme, Conpreneur Support Youth, Nigeria Youth Academy, Nigerian Education Loan Fund, Young and Secure, and the Green House Programme aimed at supporting young Nigerians.
She emphasized the essential shift in mindset for youths to actively engage with these initiatives, citing their critical role in national development and urging them to seize available opportunities.
Gbadamosi encouraged youths to view the government’s initiatives as their own, rejecting the notion of it being “their government” in a negative sense, but rather emphasizing collective ownership and participation.
In light of the upcoming protest, she called for restraint, promoting peace and dialogue as opposed to confrontation, drawing parallels to the aftermath of the #EndSARS protests and advocating for cautious handling of the situation.
Gbadamosi reaffirmed her faith in the current administration and urged youths not to lose hope, acknowledging challenges but calling for optimism and constructive engagement.
She stressed the importance of her role in monitoring government initiatives, underlining the newly established nature of her office to ensure comprehensive oversight and support for youth development.