Former director-general of National Youth Service Corps (NYSC),Brigadier-General Maharazu Tsiga has insisted that the future of Nigeria lies on its youth group, not oil and other mineral resources even as he stressed the need for youth development.
General Tsiga who was installed as ‘Icon of Development’ by the National Association of Katsina State Students (NAKATSS), yesterday, also lent credence to a recent publication by British Council which noted that “by 2030, youth, not oil, will be the country’s resource”.
Speaking on “The Role of Nigerian Students and Youths in National Development”, Tsiga said: “The significance of youth in any country cannot be overemphasized”? and also noted that “youths are the building blocks that link the past with the present.”
He insisted that for the nation to achieve the much desired development, emphasis must be placed on the youths. He, however,? regretted that, “the pride of being a Nigerian youth many years ago is somehow obliterated by the perpetuation of evils by some elders who have extolled themselves as elder statesmen.
“The importance of paying special attention to youth development in any country cannot be overemphasized as they form the bedrock upon which any society will move to the next level”, Tsiga said.
The former NYSC Boss said the nation’s health and education sector would have collapsed without the services of corps members and noted that the scheme has played significant roles in the areas of national integration and socio-economic development.
A student leader, Mukhtar Matazu said the honour was bestowed on General Tsiga in “recognition of his laudable roles in youth development and as a mark of appreciation for his unyielding support to students and youths in the state”.