Nigerian Newsday

By Yahaya Ahmed

Speaker of the House of Representatives, Honourable Dimeji BAnkole, has said that the House would continue to support Nigerian youths to equip them for global competitiveness, entrepreneurship and sustainable livelihood.

The Speaker stated this while receiving members of the Nigerian Youth Coalition, who paid him a courtesy visit in his office recently.

Hon. Bankole who described youths as drivers of growth and development, said that the House was prepared to make legislations that would enhance the well being of young people in the country.

He commended the youths for forming themselves into a coalition and urged them to continue to champion the cause of a better society by defending democracy.

According to the Speaker the present administration’s 7-cardinal-point agenda was aimed at empowering youths and therefore "the youths have personal responsibility in this noble endeavour to transform themselves from job-seekers to job and wealth investors".

On the proposed national youth sensitization and policy dialogue on the seven point agenda of President Umaru Musa Yar’adua, the Speaker assured the youths that the House would look into it with a view to taking a stand.

Earlier, the national coordinator of the group, Mr. Uzoh Ifeanyi, noted with dismay that some youths were being used to perpetrate violence and blackmail during political activities and assured that his group has now put in place a machinery to unite Nigerian youths for a common goal of development.

Mr. Ifeanyi then intimated the Speaker on plans by the sustainable Nigerian Youth Coalition to organize the 1^{st national youth sensitization and dialogue on the 7-point agenda of Mr. President across the six geo-political zones of the federation and sought for the House support.}