Group Advises Youths Tap on Opportunities Back Home

Segun James

A non-governmental organisation, Africa for Africa Initiative (AAI), has enjoined youths in the country to desist from massive migration abroad for greener pastures (popularly known as Japa), noting that there are more opportunities awaiting to be tapped in Nigeria.

The group insisted that given the number of people fleeing the country, most of them will be disappointed after wasting their time abroad for a greener pasture that is non-existent.

The NGO, whose founder is the popular gospel preacher, Pastor Chris Oyakhilome, is at the forefront of mentoring youths in the country to position them to achieve prosperity at home instead of looking for elusive Eldorado abroad.

With the theme: ‘Constitutional Conference’, the AAI said the aim was to enlighten the youths on opportunities that are available to be exploited at home and unleash their potential where they thought none exist.

In his opening remark, the CEO of Africa for Africa Initiative, Henry Akasili, said the essence of the conference was “to help us build the future of Africa. Africa is rich in talents despite the challenges. 

The politics pulled us back and limit our potentials. We need solutions, with this discourse, there must be transformation of our youths.

“The youths are not only the future but the present; their creativities and energies are what Africa need to grow. We change the socio-political landscape of our people.”

He urged them to keep an open mind with determination to excel.

Also, a lecturer, who is from oil and gas industry, Dr. Benjamin Ubido, noted that: “We have so many opportunities in Africa and in Nigeria, but what hinders us is based on the knowledge and available information we have.”

He explained that if the population of Nigeria is considered vis-a-vis the available crude oil, the country has just a drop in comparison with other oil-producing states.

The businessman, therefore, advised the youths to leverage their potential in agriculture, saying food is very vital in any nation around the world.

The expert lamented that everyone has portrayed farmers as poor, but argued that there are opportunities awaiting the youths in agriculture sector to be able to make it in life.

He stressed that minimum amount spent on food monthly in Nigeria is N6 trillion, adding that youths should go into agriculture to rise economically.

“I realize that the challenges we have in our young people is lack of information, pride and laziness and everyone wants to work from home,” he argued.

Citing example of cassava, Ubido maintained that the crop is being exported due to high demand for it, saying farmers are being pictured wrongly.

Deacon Armstrong Oyakhilome, who was a former staff of World Bank and consultant for IITA, spoke on the career progression in civil service as one of the available opportunities for youths to develop themselves.