‘We need leaders that see youths as engine of productivity’ – Obi

The 2023 Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi has expressed his deep concern over the rising level of youth unemployment in Nigeria. 

He took to his X account, highlighting that 80 million young Nigerians were unemployed according to the recent ActionAid/Plan International report.

According to him, the youth unemployment rate in South Africa is still more than 70 million fewer than Nigeria.

The former Anambra State governor cited the issue as a leadership failure. He stressed that the rate of joblessness in the state should be declared a national emergency.

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“It is deeply troubling that, rather than investing in these youths as our most productive assets, promoting and supporting MSMEs, we the leaders chose wasteful spending, corruption, unproductive borrowing, and policies that will shrink opportunities,” Obi stated.

He maintained that Nigeria does not lack entrepreneurial and resourceful youths, but rather lacks intentional and responsible leaders. 

Obi urged Nigerian youths to actively participate in the electoral process to ensure they elect leaders that have their best interest.

“Nigeria deserves competent, credible, compassionate, and capable leadership, one that will create opportunities and empower our young Nigerians,” he added.