By Goodluck Ikiebe
Nigeria’s Minister of Sports and Youth Development, Mr. Sunday Dare has been presented with the National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN) Leadership Role Model Award, in recognition of his effort at restoring peace to the Council after nine years of leadership challenge.
While receiving the Award in his office at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium Abuja on Thursday, the Minister applauded the Council for putting behind their differences and coming together as one family, not only in the interest of the Nigerian Youth but also for the development of the country.
He stated that NYCN is the umbrella body of the Nigerian youth and as such, they are conceived to be the greatest asset and resource of the country’s future, advising that keeping their grievances behind would ensure the realisation of the country of their dreams.
“Nigerian Youths are the resource of this great country, the future belongs to them because they are talented, skilled, innovative, brilliant and can take a lot of risk to ensure the progress of the country and as such needs to be organized or else government will stay away and allow them to float”
In his words, “You must be pragmatic in your approach to issues, keep yourselves up to date with available opportunities in the Ministry, get yourself involved in constructive and meaningful engagements
that will enable you contribute to the socio-economic development of our dear country”, he added.
Dare commended the President Muhammadu Buhari-led Administration for actualizing its commitment towards bringing up resourceful youth through the signing of the National Development Plan, 2021-2025, the Youth Investment Fund, the Strategic Implementation Access and many others, which he said, the youths are already benefitting from.
Earlier, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Alhaji Ismaila Abubakar, called on the youths to develop their skills and ensure they key into the various government initiatives in the Ministry.
He assured them that the doors of the Ministry is always open for meaningful discussions that will contribute to the growth and development of the youths in the country.
Also speaking, the President and Grand Commander of the Youth Council, Ambassador Sekibo Sekibo, thanked the Honourable Minister for breaking the chain through his reconciliation effort, which brought an end to the over nine years of disarray in the Council.
He assured the Minister, Permanent Secretary and Top Management Staff of the Ministry that with the efforts put together to ensure unity in the Council, the youths will come together to work for the progress of the nation as the future of the country belongs to them.
