Young people have been acknowledged as the most special breed among the citizens of Nigeria on account of the range of privileges they enjoy, which their forebears never had.
The recognition was made by the wife of the President, Aisha Muhammadu Buhari, at a dinner organized for young people to mark the end of the holy month of Ramadan.
Buhari spoke through the wife of the Acting President, Dolapo Osinbajo, at the Banquet Hall of the State House on Tuesday.
She said: “Privileges such as the digital revolution have opened up the world to young people, giving them a voice.”
Such privilege, she however said, is a burden and therefore comes with responsibility.
“I therefore call on you to be responsible in the way you apply these privileges,” she urged.
Osinbajo spoke on the need for young people to understand the importance of the family name, saying that names are honourable and must be protected.
She said: “Both family names and those given to you by your parents are honourable and must be protected. One day, you will expect the same of your kids.”
She cautioned that beyond family name is the name of Nigeria, and that must also be upheld.
She reiterated that though young people have a responsibility to own and rule their world, they must do what it takes to leave a good name.
In an address of welcome, a Senior Special Assistant to the President, Dr. Hajo Sani, said Aisha Buhari organized the event with a view to reminding the youths to sustain the positive values which they have imbibed during the holy month of Ramadan.
Also speaking at the event, the Minister of Youth and Sports, Solomon Dalung, encouraged young people to continue to take advantage of the digital revolution.
Dalung said it is good that youths can assess development in this country from their doorstep, therefore it is easy for them to get agitated when their expectations are not met.
He said change as a process may be slow but sure, painful but fruitful.
He called on them to imbibe peace, describing it as a basic commodity of existence, which should not be sacrificed on the altar of freedom of expression.
Speaking about what government is doing on social investment, Dr. Chris Ngige, the Minister of Labour and Employment, said despite the recession happening the world over, Nigeria has taken measures to cushion the effect by introducing programmes like N-Power, GEEP, NASSP and others.
Ngige advised youths to take advantage of these opportunities and learn skills that can sustain them.
The Special Adviser to the President on Media, Femi Adesina, called on youths to be more accommodating, urging them to “keep a seat in your heart for everyone”, while Malam Garba Shehu, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media, gave an inspirational talk on the importance of education as a social leveler, and urged youths to embrace it as it will shape not only their thoughts, but their utterances and their actions.