Senator Shehu Sani Drums Support for Generation Next Youth Summit 2016

Senator Shehu Sani, chairman, Senate Committee on foreign and Local Debts, has urged young Nigerians  to attend the Generation Next 2016 Youth Summit ( #TGNYES2016).

Senator Sani who is also the Vice Chairman, Senate Committee on Foreign affairs described the Summit as an opportunity for participants to learn and to also share fresh ideas, their views with others and to also take a package of knowledge back home.

“This is a platform where you can come and add value to your ambitions and your goals and your dreams. I expect you there. I wish you well,” he said.

While assessing youths’ readiness as potential leaders, the Senator representing Kaduna Central District, said, “You see, the keyword there is opportunity. If you don’t give young people the opportunity to display their talents and use it for the good of the society they will simply waste. I was going through a Facebook post and I saw a very beautiful painting by a young man. It was a lady taking her bath and there was rain. It was good painting. You could see it looked so natural. If such a young man is not encouraged, there is no where he is going to progress. Why countries develop is that they provide opportunities for those who will advance into the next generation. You are good in science? You have finished school? Instead of you to be taken over by ministry of science and technology and work in laboratotries and other places, you now become a banker. So you end up with whatever you rea just wasted. You have a guy who read physics and there is no place for him to work and then he is employed by a stand-u
p comedian and then you see him making money in stand-up comedy…that’s just the way we are.

“And then we have people who should be somewhere and they are not there. They are good in basketball with all the height and then after trials in some few teams they are payed twenty thousand Naira monthly, you can’t even pay your bills then you give up basketball you get a job in a superb security company. You see a very tall athletic young man that is supposed to be dunking ball I the net…

“You see a lady who has finished her school, good in music and has done a lot. And then she is done with school, this is a bundle of talent nobody to sponsor her recordings, give her the necessary promotion and then she is simply just called upon to serve as PA to the first Lady and that talent go. So developed societies made sure that talents are seriously never wasted.

“When you see a typical Almajiri-begger on the street, you see them as… you don’t know there are mathematical genius who are naturally good. There are good footballers. There are Doctors. There are People who if they are given opportunities could be the best lawyers in the world because their brains are naturally meant to be that but they have no opportunity to go to school so they waste.

He urged Government at different levels and the private sector to accord young people the deserved opportunity to showcase their talents in serving the society.

Senator Shenu said, “If you look at where they call the new world-America, it was founded on giving opportunity to people…. And moved way from Europe to the new continent in pursuit of freedom and happiness. Freedom where you can  be what you want to be and achieve the highest goal. That’s why when you see people here when they travel out of the country they excel. We are a nation that is so blessed. 175 million people. We are so blessed you will see that northerners beat the Arabs in Koranic recitations and our evangelical pastors; Pentecostal pastors. They are the everywhere.

“People come in from where ever countries to come to this place. When I go to a country and they tell me that ‘See this is a pastor from Nigeria whether its Joshua or Oyakhilome or whatever, I feel very proud. Even am a Muslim I feel proud that this person is in my country. And then when you see…you go to these African countries and you see our banks; Nigerian banks. You feel proud that there are also here.

“You go to a country as remote in Africa and they ask you about Okocha, Kanu and they name also Nigerian Actress in the movie and then you feel proud. They don’t even know who is the Nigerian president; but they know our footballers and movie stars. They will start asking you about people who you have ever known in your life. In order to give an impression you have to say ah you know them, they are okay. Fine. They are doing well for your country…this and that”.

Speaking further on the Summit, Destiny Ruth Obiakoeze, head, Strategy; Elbativeni Impressions and Consult, described The Generation Next Summit as a youth empowerment summit borne with a vision to identify that latent power –passion, inborn in our youths spread across our beloved nation Nigeria (especially in the FCT), against adverse circumstances –igniting them towards crossing barriers.

“The Summit is also geared towards helping youths breaking new frontiers and daring to achieve outstanding feats in their various endeavors, in life and for our country.

“The summit is youth centered and youth focused, with a mission to Building The Next Generation Leaders in all the socio political and economic life of the country. Thus, named The Generation Next Youths Summit”, she added.