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The Lagos State Government has launched an initiative to encourage youth enrolment in the Nigerian Armed Forces and curb human trafficking.
Commissioner, Ministry of Special Duties and Intergovernmental Relations, Mr. Olugbenga Oyerinde, made this known on Thursday at a seminar on the enrolment of Lagos indigenous youths into the Nigerian Armed Forces and enlightenment program on prohibition of trafficking in persons.
The seminar, themed “Ignite: Sparkling Passion and Purpose,” aimed to motivate youths and equip them with the energy needed to overcome life’s challenges.
“It is meant to give our youths the much-needed energy in life to face the challenges or obstacles on their life journey,” Oyerinde explained.
He noted that statistics have revealed a drastic dwindling in the enrolment of youths into the Nigerian Armed Forces and the Police, hence the need to sensitize them on the benefits of joining the Armed Forces.
Oyerinde also highlighted the challenges faced by youths, including unemployment, inability to access soft loans for small scale businesses, and lack of relevant skills to take up available job opportunities.
He stated that the T.H.E.M.E.S agenda and inclusiveness programs of the current administration are aimed at addressing youth unemployment and promoting gender balancing.
Oyerinde noted that unemployment is a major challenge facing youths and that rejecting opportunities in the military, police force, and paramilitary is a major regret.
He emphasized that the government is committed to creating awareness about the opportunities available in the public space and encouraged youths to take advantage of them.
Oyerinde also addressed the issue of student loans, stating that many people from the west have not taken advantage of this opportunity due to misconceptions.
“We want to see a large scale of youth enrolling for this program so that there will be room for competition. We won’t have any shortfall, any shortfall left behind when they are doing that enrollment.
“And that’s our commitment for this program. And it’s not going to stop there. We have as a ministry, we have taken it up to ensure that it will be coming on a quarterly basis until that awareness gets to a level that we so desire,” he added.
Also, Hon Dr. Rauf Olawale Age-Sulaiman, Chairman, House committee on Special Duties, Intergovernmental Relations, and Central Business District, has urged youths to embrace military and police jobs.
He noted that the Ministry of Special Duty is saddled with the problem of intergovernmental relations, which has to do with the relationship between the states and the federal government.
Sulaiman also addressed the issue of difficulties faced by applicants during the recruitment process and assured that the ministry will come up with the right way to resolve the issues.
In the same vein, Mrs Opakunle Islamiyah, Deputy Director, Federal Character Commission (FCC), has urged parents to motivate their children to join the military, stressing that it is not a death trap.
Islamiyah emphasized that the military is a noble profession that offers opportunities for young people to serve their country.
Also, Major Oke, Major General, Nigerian Army Forces, 9 Brigades, added that the military is a very noble profession that not everybody has the opportunity to join.
Oke emphasized that every member of the armed forces is a first-class citizen of the country and contributes to the security of Nigeria.
Other speakers, including Mrs Okuluyi Titi, Deputy Commander Narcotic, NDLEA, and Mr Hammed Lukman Adeyemi, Deputy Director, Ministry of Youth and Sport, advised youths to avoid drug abuse and encouraged parents to motivate their children to join the military.
Mrs Agboko Comfort, Lagos Zonal Commander, National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), emphasized that Nigeria is the best country in the world and encouraged youths to take advantage of opportunities available in the country.
