Youths Nigeria’s greatest assets - Minister

Dr Ogbonnaya Onu, the Minister of Science and Technology has stated that although Nigeria is blessed with crude oil and other natural resources, the value and potentials of the country’s youths are far higher than them.

He made the statement at the book launch of the former Minister of Education, Professor Tunde Adeniran, titled: 'Africa’s Security Challenges In The 21st Century; Power, Principles and Praxis in Global Politics', Onu said the further of the country lies with the youths.

“Nigeria is endowed with very intelligent youths. They are a national asset rather than a curse and this asset needs to be converted for the economic benefits of the country.

“Today, natural resources such as crude oil and minerals abound in Nigeria. These resources do not add up to the value which the youths can bring. Our youths have tremendous potentials that need to be encouraged,” the Minister said.

According to Onu science, technology and innovation have the capacity to educate and provide the youths with the skills they need to bring out their potentials, while describing the author, Prof. Adeniran, as “a star that guides people to shine.”

Also speaking at the event, the Chairman of Tertiary Education Trust Fund, Alhaji Kashim Ibrahim-Imam, lamented the increasing number of insecurity cases in the country, describing the situation as “a tragic story to tell and a nightmare.”