The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Abbas Tajudeen, has reaffirmed the House’s dedication to investing in the youth of Nigeria, particularly in the field of education.
Highlighting the immense potential of young Nigerians, Speaker Abbas emphasized the importance of empowering them to become the leaders of tomorrow. He made these remarks during a visit from the Fellows of the Mandela Washington Fellowship Alumni Association of Nigeria at his office on Thursday.
The Nigerian alumni were joined by fellow participants from various African nations, including Botswana, Gambia, Kenya, Namibia, Senegal, Lesotho, Burkina Faso, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Zimbabwe, Benin Republic, Angola, Egypt, Ghana, and others.
These fellows are in Nigeria for the Africa Youth Month program, which kicked off on Thursday.
Speaker Abbas stated, “According to the information I received, this marks the 10th anniversary of this initiative, and many young Africans have taken part, with Nigeria being the largest beneficiary due to our population size.”
He expressed pride in the skills the fellows have developed and their future applications, saying, “We are confident that all the skills you’ve acquired over the years will be effectively utilized.”
The Speaker highlighted that the House has initiated several programs aimed at nurturing the best talent among the youth.
He mentioned the Legislative Mentorship Initiative (LMI), which provides training for youth from all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, integrating them into society. “This initiative has significantly contributed to shaping our youth’s culture, and we plan to expand it in the coming years to include more participants,” he noted.
Speaker Abbas assured the visiting fellows that the House is committed to investing in the training of young people, especially in education. He announced plans to engage around 10 LMI participants as legislative aides to various committees to help them learn about the legislative process and leadership.
He informed the fellows, particularly those from other African nations, that the House has two key committees focused on youth: the Committee on Youth Development and the Committee on Youth in Parliament.
“We currently have about 40 young representatives in the 10th House, and they are performing admirably,” he added.
He emphasized the necessity of dedicating resources to youth training and education, stating, “In a country where approximately 70 percent of the population consists of young people, we have an obligation to ensure they receive the best training and education available.”
