Minister urges youths to key into skills development acquisition

Dr Ramatu Aliyu, FCT Minister of State, has urged youths to key into skill acquisition development to reduce unemployment and poverty in the country.

Aliyu made the call at the inauguration of tree planting project by Nigerian youths in commemoration of the World Youth Skills Day, organised by the FCT Social Development Secretariat, on Thursday in Abuja.

She also counsels youths to ensure the beautification of the FCT through tree planting to achieve an improved and sustainable environment.

The minister noted that the Sustainable Development Goals No.13 emphasised the need for urgent action to combat climate change and its impact.

She said that all nations of the world “are committed to direct the attention of youths to tree planting so as to promote greening and aesthetics of the environment’’.

This, according to her, is by adoring the environment with ornamental plants, shrubs and trees for a sustainable environment.

“The role of youths in environmental protection cannot be over emphasized.

“Youths constitute a larger part of the world’s population and young people will have to live longer with the consequences of the current environmental decisions than the elders.

“Future generation will also be affected by these decisions and the extent to which they have addressed concerns such as the depletion of resources, biodiversity loss, and long-lived radioactive waste.

“It is, therefore, very significant that we ensure the beautification of the FCT through planting of trees, to rid the FCT of waste and achieve an improved and sustainable environment,’’ the minister said.

Aliyu used the occasion to commend youths for sensitising residents on the outbreak of COVID-19 and for supporting the equitable distribution of palliative items to the vulnerable in rural communities.

Also speaking, the Acting Secretary of FCT Social Development Secretariat, Mrs Dili Onyedinma, remarked that engaging youths in environmental protection would create direct impact on their behaviours and their immediate communities.

Onyedinma said that youths have the potential to change society with their courageous behaviours.

She noted that youths were in the heart of sustainable green economy.

She advocated the need for adequate funding to develop a more robust action plan and expand the scope of the nation’s sovereign green bonds in line with global commitment to achieving better future for all.