A former Commissioner for Finance in Oyo State and Oyo South Senatorial Hopeful in, Bimbo Adekanmbi, has explained that the Nigerian youth are grossly underrepresented on the Nigerian political scene.
This was just as he urged Nigerian youth to get involved in the political and electioneering process of their respective States and the Country as a whole.
Speaking at the inauguration of the new executive of the Federation of Ibadan Students Union, FIBSU, Adekanmbi, agreed that we have seen several Nigerian youth taking on remarkable leadership roles in various spheres of life. Their leadership capabilities, he said, have never been in doubt.
The All Progressives Congress, APC, chieftain, said that over 80 per cent of political office holders today are above 50 years old.
This, the Ibadan-born politician, said was “partly due to the seeming exclusion of the youth by the older generation of politicians, as well as the gross ignorance and lack of interest by the youth themselves to participate in the process of taking up political leadership roles.”
He also charged Nigerian youth not to abandon the political process of this country into the hands of the older politicians alone, considering the larger percentage the youths of Nigeria making up the entire population.
He said that despite all the odds against Nigerian youths, they remain resilient.
Explaining that financial empowerment of the Nigerian youth is critical to their ability to harness their economic and political potentials, he appealed that “The youth should take advantage of the opportunities available in Tech. Markets such as Fintech, Crypto, Edutech, Healthtech etc. to deliver Innovation and impactful Solutions. There are also ever increasing funding options for Nigerian startups- over $248 million(N102.77 billion) of funding was raised by startups operating across several sectors in Q3 2021. The financial sector received almost half of the total amount raised in the period,” he added.
As a way forward, he advised the youth to become more active and involved in the affairs of their community.
“No doubt, Nigerian youths are making waves and making Nigeria proud all over the world. But to open more channels to prosperity we, youth, must be part of the political process that will determine appropriately the future of ourselves, the youths.
“There are many opportunities in all spheres of governance and sectors in the country. It is only when we join the process that we can be aware and informed about the happenings and openings all around.”
He cited many youth making waves all around the globe, urging that it should be a motivating reference for Nigerian youths to be inspired to make waves in their chosen field.
While at that, Adekanmbi added that, “youths have allowed the politics process to fall too much in the hands of many charlatans. And consequently, having great negative impacts on the life of not only youth but the general society.”
“Nigeria will be more great if we, the youth, join the process as participants, and not spectators anymore,” he said.
He also used the occasion to extend his bursary and scholarship to the Central Council of Ibadan Indigenes, CCII and FIBSU, but added that “It won’t be like others do it. We want brilliant but indigent students who have distinguished themselves academically to apply.
