By Kingsley Mba

The founder/president Bukar Foundation, Abuja, Dr Usman Bukar has advised Nigerian government to prioritize its development agenda to accommodate more youths and women 'to enhance their roles in nation building.'

This was contained in the key note address Dr Bukar delivered during the Peace, Unity And Nation Building dialogue organised by StandTall Africa Initiative in Abuja under the theme, "Building A Better And Stronger Africa & Nigeria Through Peaceful Co-existence, Unity And Intellectual Engagement."

Dr Bukar in his address said that the speed with which Nigeria's population is growing, more efforts should be channelled toward empowering the youths and women as critical partners in nation building.

"Nigeria has over 250 ethnic groups and 500 languages. From a population of about 50 million in the 1960s, it has grown to become not only the most populous black country and the largest economy in Africa but also the one with the largest youth population in the world, next to China and India." Dr Bukar stated

He therefore contended that given the above scenario, it is therefore pertinent for Nigeria to reset it's development focus to cater for the needs of the youths and women as a result of their size and potentials.


Speaking on the concerns raised by the population size of the country, Dr Bukar noted that there would be conflict as people scramble for limited land spaces, scarce resources while identifying poverty, joblessness and corruption as the root causes of the hopelessness and atrocities by some people against fellows citizens.

He pointed out that the increasing number of the population has also placed more demand for security and welfare of the people.

On the agitation and clamour from many Nigerians for restructuring and Constitutional review, Dr Bukar stated that those craving for more states or local government creation should know that the already existing ones are yet to be consolidated and the group should align their actions with positive contributions and the realities facing the country. He nevertheless believes that only good governance and sound leadership can address the many challenges and agitations in the country.

A former governor of Niger state, Dr Babangida Aliyu in his contributions during the event called on the National Assembly to take decisive action in addressing the problem the Joint Admission Matriculation Board (JAMB) exam pose to students seeking admission particularly foreigners as JAMB has no provisiosn to accommodate foreigners who wish to study in Nigeria.

"JAMB has become a problem to many students and foreigners seeking admission in Nigeria, the national Assembly should look into this especially private schools in Nigeria"

Speaking on insecurity and the problem posed by secessionists, Dr Aliyu said it is wrong for public figures and politicians to have dual citizenship. This he said gave them undue advantage as they find easy way to escape after heating up the polity.

"When those people causing problems know that the other foreign Nations where they are citizens would offer them assistance, they become more emboldened "

He mentioned the Yoruba nation agitator, Sunday Adeyemo AKA Sunday Igboho, the leader of IPOB, Nnamdi Kanu and the Publisher of Sahara reporters as some of the people using their dual citizenship as a privilege to cause unrest.

"Public figures and politicians seeking any position should first renounce his or her dual citizenship,"

The former governor advised the government to focus more on building strong institutions as only strong institutions can produce good leaders and good citizens.

Speaking on insecurity, Aliyu stated that there is need for the government to strengthen the traditional institutions and leaders to fight insecurity. "These traditional rulers and village leaders have impeccable intelligence gathering networks. They know new faces and strangers coming into their communities through an established system of local administration".

Source: https://www.naijavoicenews.com/2021/07/29/nigeria-needs-to-re-focuse-its-development-agenda-on-the-youth-and-women-dr-bukar-usman/

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