The Youth Advancement Initiative has held its first National summit in Lagos, southwest, Nigeria today October 1st 2020. Youths across the country assembled at the Guesstimate Hotel, Oregun to chat a new path to address self-actualization and development of younger generation, productive participation in the economy, governance, policy making and national development.
The Theme of the National summit was tagged “Build that Potential, Not Certificate alone: Solution to Unemployment “.
During an exclusive interview, the National President and founder of the Youth Advancement Initiative, Amb. Comrade Ade Mario Emmanuel said the Initiative was founded by a group of key intellectuals who came together to fine tune a way forward for the Nigerian Youths in the areas of governance, economy, Politics and education.
Emmanuel further stated that ” the concept of the first National summit was a result of the experiences witnessed at the peak of the coronavirus pandemic lockdown. At a point in time, our Professors, Doctorate Degree holders were nowhere to be found because they all relied on certificate qualifications without building skills and potentials”.
He emphasised that the Youth Advancement Initiative was not waiting for what the government can offer them but urged the Federal and state governments to collaborate with the group. “YAI is focusing on Youth capacity and technical building that has to do with the Jet age that we are, looking forward to a better Nigeria”.
“I want to encourage the Nigerian Youths to build their potentials and skills for self-actualization and development to be a Master of Employer of Labour”, Emmanuel reiterated.
In his speech, the Lagos State Chairman of YAI, Amb. Comrade Ikenna Nwaeze said ” YAI is poised to correct the deceitful narrative from the so called Elder Statesmen by producing disciplined youths who are leaders of Today not tomorrow, “We say no to Youths as Leaders of tomorrow and Yes to Leaders of Today”.
Nwaeze explained that “the Youth Advancement Initiative is a legitimate and progressive youth based organization which does not and will not encourage violence in its quest to lawfully reposition the youths to rightfully occupy their positions in the Society but through integrity, teamwork, transparency, accountability, originality, inclusiveness and non-partisanship are our moral base towards tactful lobbying for attention in our communities”.
The Chairman of the occasion and National Coordinator, ‘Tinubu Non-Negotiable 2023’ [TNN2023] , Hon. Mutiu Kunle Okunola, implored Nigerian Youths to put their skills, talents and potentials into productive use and nation building. He also encouraged the youths to participate in active Politics and governance leveraging on the ‘Not too young to Rule Bill’.
Okunola called for power shift to the southwest after the completion of Pres. Muhammadu Buhari’s 8 years in office.
In his words, “The most qualified and experienced Person to lead this country to unprecedental development and prosperity remains the great Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
While addressing the gathering, a Honourable member of House of Representatives and Guest Speaker,
Hon. Adejoro Adeogun said Businesses evolves in finding solutions to problems. He urged Nigerian Youths to place less emphasis on certificates but focus more on building their skills and convert the skills acquired to creativity, innovation and job creation to improve the state of Nigeria’s economy. “every challenge you face is an opportunity to do something better”, Adeogun said.
Represented by the Keynote Speaker, Dr. Teni Adesanya, Mr. Akinloye Olusegun Enq., lauded the Youth Advancement Initiative Maiden submit designed for youths self-rediscovery and emancipation . He emphasised that it germane to promote right technical skills and Vocational training the youths.
An Academic and Director of Education and Business Development at the Academy for International Science and Research, Northern Ireland, United Kingdom, Dr. Adeniyi John stated that STEM education should be introduced into the Nigerian education curriculum; “It is the practical approach to adopt to check the rate of unemployment and underemployment in Nigeria” he emphasised.
According to him, the STEM educational system encompasses critical thinking, innovation and research; Teachings from early childhood using different pictorial representations to reawaken children’s knowledge. He advised the government to redesign the curriculum and change the methodology of teaching in such a way that will accommodate technical education and promote skill acquisition and development.
Speaking further, Dr. Johnson encouraged the Nigerian Youths to be creative, innovative, passion-driven despite the Challenges they might encounter.
Awards of Excellence were presented to the Chairman of the occasion, Hon. Mutiu Kunle Okunola, Keynote Speaker, Dr. Teni Adesanya which was received by Mr. Akinloye Olusegun Enq., Guest Speaker, Hon. Adejoro Adeogun, and the Director of Education and Business Development, Academy for International Science and Research, Northern Ireland, United Kingdom, Dr. Adeniyi John