Youth Day 2025: Stakeholders urge Nigerian youths to remain focused, avoid substance abuse
Youths across the country have been urged not to rely totally on government jobs but to become well equipped with digital skills, while shuning substance abuse.
The advice was given during the 2025 International World Youth Day celebration, organized by the Consolidated Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Ogun State Council.
The event held at the NUJ Secretariat Hall, Abeokuta, was themed “Youths Empowerment For A Sustainable Future”.
Delivering his keynote address, the PDP chieftain and covener of The Alternative, Segun Showunmi, maintained that youths are needed for the development and growth of the country, not the older generations.
He urged younger generations to understand that the future lies in their hands, and always remain ready and determined for whatever may come forth.
He said, ”When talking about youth empowerment, we need to be serious here, because in 40 years time, our population will hit 1 billion.
“Do you know what a free market economy does or what it means? A free market economy means if you don’t work, you won’t eat.
“As youths, we need skills and when any politician come to you, tell them they should provide you with skills”, he added.
He, however, concluded with a call to action, encouraging young ones to take the lead in creating a more sustainable and equitable society.
Speaking earlier, the State Commander of National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Tijani Rabe, disclosed that the southern geopolitical zones, with the SouthWest has the highest prevalence, with over 4 million Nigerians indulging in the abuse of various kinds of drugs.
Rabe lamented that nationwide, the rehab centers are filled with shattered dreams of once-promising lives consumed by drug addiction, adding that the hope for tomorrow are being systematically robbed of their future.
He disclosed that the agency had employed supply reduction through arrest of illicit drug traffickers and dealers, seizure of the illicit substances of abuse, confiscation of the proceeds of the drug crime and prosecution of offenders.
The NDLEA boss added that education and awareness initiatives in communities and schools to promote drug-free lifestyles and reducing drug accessibility has also been used.
In his message of goodwill, Lamide Lawal, Special Adviser to the State Governor on Youth, emphasised the need for parents to keep an eye on their children and encouraged youths to get involved in everything around them in order to get the change they desire.
Meanwhile, the member, State House of Assembly Representing Abeokuta South (Constituency 1), Lukman Atobatele, frowned that youths are not ready, saying they would enroll for empowerment but at the end only few utilize and put into practice what is learned.
Youth Day 2025: Stakeholders urge Nigerian youths to remain focused, avoid substance abuse
