Former President Olusegun Obasanjo says there is the need for governments at all levels to prioritise youth empowerment and development for a secured future in Nigeria.
Obasanjo made the call on Tuesday in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, during the 2014 International Youth Day Celebration.
“Any nation or community which fails to take the training and empowerment of its youths seriously is playing a dangerous game with its future,” he said.
The programme, with the theme: “Youth And Mental Health,” was organised by the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library Youth Centre.
Obasanjo pointed out that the United Nations set aside August 12 of every year for celebrating the youths because of the importance of that age-group.
He said: “It is in recognition of the importance of youths that made the UN to dedicate August 12 of every year for the celebration of youths all over the world.
“People say that youths are the hope of the future, but it is more than that.
“Youths are our future.
“They are the stability of the future.
“In fact, youths are the future itself.
“So, when we talk about the youths, we talk about the future and the future of any nation or community which jokes with its future is doomed.”
The former Nigerian president said the absence of a place in Abeokuta where youths could converge for gainful discussions informed his decision to build a youth centre.
Obasanjo said: “One of the things I found lacking in this beautiful and historic city of Abeokuta is that there is no place where youths can gather to relax, talk, debate and dialogue about the future, either individually or collectively.
“So, I am building the youth centre so that they can relax there and discuss important issues, instead of engaging their strength and time in frivolities.”
The former president had earlier in the day joined a group of youths in a heath walk.
The walk had commenced at about 8am from Kuto Roundabout and terminated at the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library, a distance of about two kilometres.