Youth Group Applauds Amajiri Education

BEVERLY HILLS, CA, March 27, (THEWILL) - The National Youth Council of Nigeria, North-West zone has applauded steps taken by the administration of President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan to create access to education for the Nigerian child and empowering the youths.

The Vice-President, National Youth Council of Nigeria, North-West zone, Mr.

Jamilu Abdullahi Karama, made the commendation when he led other officials of the group that paid a courtesy visit on the Minister of Education, Chief (Barr) Ezenwo Nyesom Wike, in his office on Thursday, a statement by Simeon Nwakaudu, the Special Assistant (Media) to the Supervising Minister of Education, said.

The Youth leader particularly commended government's initiative to integrate the Almajiri education into the Basic Education system to address the issue of out-of-school population.

'It is on record that as at the last count, 120 of such schools have been established scattered all over the country, particularly in the North-West zone where the menace is high,' he said.

He, however, appealed to government to increase the number of the Almajiri schools and expand scholarship opportunities to reach the less privileged youths to enable them to be enrolled in formal school.

He also requested that government put in place a mechanism to assist youths who have received one form of skill acquisition or the other to start up and grow their own business, adding that the inability of such youth to start and run businesses was the main reason why previous efforts of government to empower the youths have yielded little results in terms of employment generation.

Chief Wike thanked them for the visit, saying youth constitute a key component of the national population and play very significant role in national development.

The Minister, represented by the Permanent Secretary, Dr.

MacJohn Nwaobiala, said that a nation that aspires to grow and pursue lofty height must not neglect the youth, adding that as we pursue our Vision 20:2020 it must be anchored on ensuring that the youth are carried along.

It is also to ensure that their capacities are fully developed and be encouraged through various ways to contribute to national development.

He said that the Federal Government's intervention at the Basic Education level and other interventions were to ensure that children/youth who are leaders of tomorrow were given enabling environment to develop their potentials.

While assuring the group of continued support, he urged them to be focused and never allow any individual or group to manipulate them for personal gain as the country heads towards holding another general election.