The Senior Special Assistant (SSA) to the President on Citizenship and Leadership, Rinsola Abiola has appealed to young Nigerians to pay special attention to initiatives and programmes established by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to promote education, youth empowerment and leadership development.
Abiola gave the admonition in her presentation at the maiden Next Generation Engagement held in Kano at the weekend.
The engagement, tagged “Next Generation Project”, is a programme designed by the Office of the Senior Special Assistant (SSA) to the President on Citizenship and Leadership to promote civic education and youth leadership development, in partnership with the National Orientation Agency (NOA).
Addressing a gathering of senior secondary school students, Kano State Government officials and the state command of the NDLEA,
she emphasised that the Renewed Hope administration of President Tinubu, aware of the importance of education as the key to developing the young ones for a more prosperous future, has introduced several support initiatives to provide them access to education.
She said, “This includes the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND), which is an interest-free loan initiative for tertiary education students who need support to pay tuition fees.”
She maintained that quality education and constant crave for personal development would help them in their individual career growth.
“I want to encourage you to please take your education very seriously. Studies have shown that the greater the level of education attained, the higher the capacity to earn. What this means is that education holds the key to a more prosperous future and we must therefore prioritise it. Contrary to what some people say, school is not a scam in any way because no matter the nature of the job or business, an enlightened and educated person will approach it in a more efficient and organised way.
“President Bola Ahmed Tinubu understands this very key role that education plays, and that is why the Renewed Hope administration has established the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND), an interest-free loan initiative for students of tertiary institutions who require support with paying their tuition,” she said.
On promoting civic responsibility, Abiola urged the students to “take concepts such as democracy and nation-building very seriously”. She further encouraged them to become active citizens who fulfil their civic obligations once they come of age, and participate in community development efforts.
The SSA also urged the youths to utilise the internet and social media responsibly, with focus on using them to access greater opportunities and greater learning experiences.
She also thanked the government of Kano State for its support for the engagement.
The event also featured a mentorship session with Dr. Kabir Sufi, a notable public servant and entrepreneur; Khalifa Mustapha, founder of Enthuse Entrepreneurship Secondary School in Kano; and Bahijjah Shehu Bawa, founder of Bee-Jay Beauty, a cosmetic brand.
Other engagements in the Next Generation Project are scheduled to take place in Adamawa, Niger, Cross River, Abia and Ogun states.
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