On Monday, the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Benjamin Okezie Kalu, urged Nigerian youths to contribute meaningfully to the nation’s progress, saying it is time to build the country of their dreams.
Hon. Kalu gave the charge while delivering the keynote address at the unveiling of the Nigeria Youth Futures Fund (NYFF) grants. The theme was ‘Catalysing Youth Agency for the Nigeria we want,’ and it was implemented in partnership with LEAP Africa, MacArthur Foundation, and Ford Foundation, where some grants were given to youths for empowerment.
The Deputy Speaker, urging them to shun all manners of social vices, observed that NYFF’s impact extends beyond the grantees themselves.
Kalu added that the impact also fosters a vibrant youth ecosystem where collaboration and knowledge sharing are the norm and where young people are connected, empowered, and ready to make a difference.
He said, “It is now your turn, the youth of Nigeria, to seize the mantle of leadership and continue the march towards a brighter future.
Our challenges are not insurmountable obstacles but opportunities for innovation, collaboration, and transformative change.
“Step into the arena of leadership, not as mere participants but as architects of a new Nigeria. Let your voices be heard, your ideas be shared, and your actions be the driving force behind a nation that truly reflects the dreams and aspirations of its youth.
“Let us envision a Nigeria where innovation thrives, entrepreneurship flourishes, and technology empowers our youth to become the engines of economic growth. Let us envision a Nigeria where diversity is celebrated, inclusion is the norm, and every Nigerian feels valued and respected.
“The time for action is now, my fellow Nigerians. Let us seize this opportunity to shape the Nigeria we want, a nation that reflects our collective dreams and aspirations. Let us unleash the power of youth agency, the transformative force that will propel our nation toward a brighter future.
“I am a living example. I also saw the opportunity in the leadership space, and I seized it. From local government chairmanship in my early years to being a two-term member of the executive council of my state to being the deputy speaker of the House of Representatives and still not old.”
Charging the youth to stay away from kidnapping, thuggery, and insurgency, Hon. Kalu stated that the grants are not merely financial lifelines but catalysts for innovation.
“This is a message to young people: you’re better than doing kidnapping; you’re better than being in an insurgency group. You can do more than being a thug. You have a lot in your hands. It’s time for you to harness it,” he said.
“As we unveil these grants, we are not simply distributing funds; we are sowing the seeds of a new era, one where the voices of young Nigerians are amplified, their energies harnessed, and their dreams realized,” he said.
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