Anambra youths under the aegis of Youth Association of Anambra South Senatorial District, have expressed disgust over the formation of the twenty three man Committee set up by the Minister of Youths and Sports Development to serve as focal group for newly approved Nigerian Youth Investment Fund.
Ekwi Ajide of our Abuja Bureau reports that that the group led by its National leader, Mr Peter Ekwueme, said the formation is devoid of federal character and the caliber of people selected defeats the purpose of the committee which includes to process the views and inputs of Youths and advise the Investment Fund’s Technical Committee on how best to apply the funds and to provide valuable feedback on expectations and challenges of Nigeria Youths.
Mr Ekwueme a lawyer said the group believes that majority of the Committee members are private individual service providers and business owners who lack in depth exposure, relationship or experience of the grassroots youth engagement and as such, cannot be in touch with the demands or yearnings of youths at the grassroots.
According to him, failure of the Committee in the delivery of the two fold mandate will be a consequence too dire for the Nigerian Youth to bear.
He implored the Minister to scrutinize the focal group critically and ensure that majority of its members are drafted from the rank and leadership of widely accepted regional affiliated groups in Nigeria in a manner that will be fair, equal and wide spread representation of all federating units of the Country.
Contributing, Mr. Emmanuel Nwachendu, said choosing from already known youth leaders, who are closer to the grassroots, will provide better information and understanding of the grassroot youth and advocated a transparent machinery to ensure periodic and verifiable publication of successful applicants to the funds.
Recall that recently, President Muhammadu Buhari, approved the sum of seventy five billion naira collateral free Micro loan for youths in Nigeria.
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