The Lagos State government has launched an initiative aimed at curbing human trafficking and encouraging youth enrolment in the Nigerian Armed Forces.
The state’s Commissioner for Special Duties and Intergovernmental Relations, Mr Olugbenga Oyerinde, made this known on Thursday at a seminar on the enrolment of Lagos Indigenous youths into the Nigerian Armed Forces and an enlightenment program on the prohibition of trafficking in persons.
He said the themed “Ignite: Sparkling Passion and Purpose” seminar aims to motivate youths and equip them with the energy needed to overcome life’s challenges.
“It is meant to give our youths the much-needed energy to face the challenges or obstacles on their life journey,” Oyerinde explained.
He noted that statistics have revealed a drastic dwindling in the enrolment of youths into the Nigerian Armed Forces and the Police, hence the need to sensitise them on the benefits of joining the Armed Forces.
Oyerinde also highlighted the challenges youths face, including unemployment, the inability to access soft loans for small-scale businesses, and a lack of relevant skills to take up available job opportunities.
He stated that the current administration’s THEMES agenda and inclusiveness programme aims to address youth unemployment and promote gender balance.
Oyerinde noted that unemployment is a significant challenge facing youths and that rejecting opportunities in the military, police force, and paramilitary is a considerable regret.
He emphasised that the government is committed to creating awareness about the opportunities available in the public space and encouraged youths to take advantage of them.
Oyerinde also addressed the issue of student loans, stating that many people from the west have yet to take advantage of this opportunity due to misconceptions.
“We want to see a large scale of youth enrolling for this programme so there will be room for competition. We won’t have any shortfall left behind when they are doing that enrollment.
“And that’s our commitment to this programme. And it’s not going to stop there. As a ministry, we have taken it up to ensure that it will be coming every quarter until that awareness gets to a level that we so desire,” he added.
Also, speaking, the chairman of the House Committee on Special Duties, Intergovernmental Relations, and Central Business District, Dr. Rauf Olawale Age-Sulaiman, urged youths to embrace military and police jobs.
