LAGOS STATE GOVERNMENT REFUNDS 145 FORMER SUBSCRIBERS OF EGAN HOUSING ESTATE
admin By Oyebola Owolabi
Lagos State government has admonished indigenous youths to join the military, saying it is not a death sentence.
Commissioner for Special Duties and Intergovernmental Relations Olugbenga Oyerinde spoke yesterday at a seminar on the enrolment of Lagos indigenous youths into the Nigerian Armed Forces, and enlightenment on prohibition of trafficking in persons.
Themed ‘Ignite: Sparkling Passion and Purpose’, the seminar was 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 in life to face the challenges or obstacles on their life journey,” Oyerinde explained.
According to the commissioner, statistics have shown a dwindling in the enrolment of youths into the Armed Forces and the police, hence the need to sensitise them on the benefits of joining the Armed Forces.
Oyerinde also highlighted the challenges faced by youths, including unemployment, inability to access soft loans for small scale businesses, and lack of relevant skills to take up available job opportunities.
He also noted that rejecting opportunities in the military, police force, and paramilitary was a major regret.
Oyerinde however said the T.H.E.M.E.S+ agenda and inclusive programs of the current administration are aimed at addressing youth unemployment and promoting gender balance. He emphasised that the government is committed to creating awareness about the opportunities available in the public, and encouraged youths to take advantage of them.
He added: “We want to see a large scale of youth enroll for these programmes so there will be room for competition and we won’t have shortfalls.
“And that’s our commitment for this program. It will not stop there. As a ministry, we have taken it up to ensure this senstitisation holds quarterly until the awareness gets to a level that we so desire.”
Chairman of the House of Assembly Committee on Special Duties, Intergovernmental Relations, and Central Business District, Dr. Rauf Age-Sulaiman, urged youths to embrace military and police jobs.
He noted that the Ministry will address difficulties faced by applicants during the recruitment, and promised that the ministry will come up with the right way to resolve such.
Deputy Director of the Federal Character Commission (FCC) Mrs. Opakunle Islamiyah urged parents to motivate their children to join the military, stressing that it is not a death trap.
Mrs. Islamiyah emphasised that the military is a noble profession that offers opportunities for young people to serve their country.
