In today’s Nigeria, radical investment in youth development in other to boost human capital and the economy is extremely crucial. 

As a result, youth empowerment is the most critical long-term investment a nation can embark on for the future of its people in terms of prosperity and quality of life. 

Below are some of the reasons why Nigeria should treat youth empowerment as an emergency. 

• Youth Empowerment To Fight Poverty 

The key to unlocking hidden capacity that can improve the standard of living of the average Nigerian is youth empowerment. Today’s youth will be the ones to lead societal growth or a lack of it in the future.

An empowered youth is freed from the fear of the unknown, insecurities as he or she possesses the necessary knowledge and skills to determine their destinies, as a result creating a continuously improving society.  Above all, without empowerment, a generation of potential innovators, investors and gurus will be lost.  An individual can only give with he or she has. For instant, an empty cup can not supply another cup with its content. 

• The Economic Impact Of Youth Empowerment

Research shows that there is a strong correlation between economic growth and youth empowerment. In other words, possessing better knowledge and skills would have a direct impact on the economy of any country. With a knowledgeable workforce for example, productivity increases, quality of work increases, the quality of goods and services increase. The economy is better for it. 

 Furthermore, people with better knowledge and skills possess the capacity to earn more from their endeavors. This results in stronger consumer spending power. As one becomes employed, starts a business, and/or experience growth in earnings, his or her ability to purchase home appliances, cars, landed property, technology etc increases. This creates a positive ripple effect on the economy as various industries like auto manufacturing, tech, real estate and many more are directly impacted, leading to a growth in the nation’s GDP. 

• The Need for A Long Term Social Network

In a country like Nigeria, where skills is not enough, there is a need to build a long term social network if one is to beat the poverty plague.

Without a support system, an individual is vulnerable to all types of disadvantages one can image. Youth empowerment strengthens connections and collaborations with other members of society, laying the foundation for life long value-added relationships. These relationships are vital to the development of better opportunities for the youth, families and the larger society. Recommendations for a project, a new job or business opportunity is important in Nigeria, making building one’s network more crucial. However, it takes empowerment to be able to build an effective network.

To conclude, the government, cooperate society and well off individuals need to do more to empower the youth. This is important, if they truly believe in the vision of having an advanced society for generations to come. 

Hon. Muhammed Kadade Suleiman, Kaduna State Gubernatorial candidate under the platform of PDP vows to chase Mal Nasiru Elrufai from office In 2019 election.

Interviewer: Please tell us about yourself.

Hon. Kadade: I am Muhammed Kadade Sulaiman, I was born and raised in Kaduna and the first son of my parents. My father late Alhaji Kadade Sulaiman, he was the first district head of our village Nasarawan Doya and he was Chairman of Makarfi Local Government.

Interviewer: Why do you want to be the governor of Kaduna State?

Hon. Kadade: Firstly, I want the youths to realize, to wake up from their sleep. It is time to become responsible and start participating in politics and decision making. Decisions that will change our lives and that of the generation to come.

Interviewer: In what ways will you, as a younger candidate, be able to deliver what others haven’t done before?

Hon. Kadade: One thing is that, we the younger generation, the youth had been hearing this “Youth are the leaders of tomorrow”. The rate of younger generation in politics and government has decreased in large number. For instance if you look at them Ahmadu Bello, Tafawa Balewa, Maitama Sule and the rest, there were young people between 20 to 40 years and they did a lot to this country.

I believe the involvement of a lot more young people in politics in our country will bring great things to us. And I believe in most of our founding fathers ideology. Always remember that wisdom is not the prerogative of the old only. Even the younger generation might be endowed with wisdom.

I have always seen love as something that will bind us together. Love of state, love of hope, love of dream, love of life, liberty and the persuade of happiness. With these I believe we will make Kaduna State great.

Interviewer: How do you plan to reduce high rate of kidnapping and tribalism as is common in the state?

Hon. Kadade: Kidnapping comes as a result of unemployment and lack of security. If work is given to people, salaries are being paid, workers are not sacked without tangible reasons, then I see no reason why kidnapping will have room in Kaduna State.

And about tribalism, I will make unity my top priority, because I believe unity begets progress. I will try my very best to make sure that there is good interaction and communication among our people, with these all religious and tribal bigotry will be flushed out of the state.

Interviewer: Do you think you can chase Malam Nasiru el-rufai from office?

Hon. Kadade: “smiles” I will easily defeat Elrufai in 2019. I think this is the easiest task I will ever come across in my life. Because the youths have waken up, they have opened their eyes wide now, the elders too are with me as they want nothing now but development and not propaganda.

Interviewer: What can you say about the recent move made by Malam Nasiru El-rufai to borrow money from the World Bank?

Hon. Kadade: It is obvious. Is Malam Nasiru el-Rufa’i not ashamed? Was he not the one that criticized the past administration of debt? He said on June 2015 “ Kaduna State is so much indebted to the extent that each person living in the state has a debt burden of about 15000 naira including children yet unborn”.

The man who could not explain how he spent N7.721 Billion Paris club refund is now telling us how he will spend $350 million loan? It is clear that he is collecting this loan to fund his campaign not for work in developing the state.

Interviewer: In what ways do you believe you can push youth to the forefront of politics and make the needful and impactful change your state needs?

Hon. Kadade: In order to bring in the change we have been chanting for, we need to see the involvement of youth most be 100%. I want to remind the youth in Kaduna State today that we are the future leaders today. The future is now not tomorrow not next year. If we do not get involved now then we should be blamed for what ever we see.

We are the future today. Youth Participation is a must and must be taken seriously. It is only that you do not have to wait to be an adult to be an active member of your community. Your opinion matters and it should be heard.

I started participating since when I was 16 years of age, since before I started voting. Speak your mind online through social media or at meetings and gatherings. It helps you assert yourself and your interests. Also, you never know who might be listening but always think before posting anything.

Participate in youth organizations because they are places to expand your knowledge and become an active member of your society. If your community does not have an organization representing the youth, create one. Be the trendsetter and make impact.

Flow into different political parties and participate fully. You can be a politician even without contesting for any political office, you can contribute in many ways by being a member. But young people nowadays just want to jump and catch the rope. What I mean is that they want to contest without knowing their party members, excos, delegates and even party heads which is not possible. We need to participate fully and even occupy some key positions in different political parties. Secondly, giving the youth hope, will push them to a greater level in politics.

I felt if I have not put myself in the center of it then we will all continue be spectators. And thank God many young people are now gaining interest in politics. Absolute transparency and truth. I believe with absolutely transparency and truth, it will help our youths in getting into greater level. Believe in your self and follow your passion. Passionate youth will change Kaduna State InshaAllah.

We all care about something, why not stand for it?

Interviewer: What do you think it will take for you to win the upcoming 2019 elections?

Hon. Kadade: Winning an election is hard work.  It takes time and careful planning.
Anyone thinking of running against an incumbent must make a careful examination of whether it can be done. Generally, there are two things that should worry incumbents. One, is whether the electorate perceives that things are on the right track.

The other is whether the electorate thinks the incumbent cares about them. A deadly combination for any incumbent is that voters think government is off the track and nobody cares about them and that is what is happening in Kaduna State.

The incumbent governor has failed to fulfill a single campaign promise and the people are totally not in support of himself. The number of unemployment has risen and the masses are bitterly complaining. Almost 30,000 people lost their jobs under the governor’s watch which is wrong. And the people of Kaduna have decided to vote the incumbent government out of Sir Kashim Ibrahim house in 2019 election. I think it is easy for any credible candidate to win election in Kaduna State, someone who is not a propagandist.

A politician of integrity must be seen making genuine efforts to fulfill their campaign promises. But in Kaduna no effort has been made to make the state great again as mentioned during their campaign. They promised the people heaven and earth.

Thank you