By Bilesanmi Abayomi
The General Secretary of Lagos State Child Protection and social commentator, Omoba Awofeso Rasheed Ololade, has described Nigerian youths as the driving force of the economy and urged them to steer clear of social vices.
Awofeso made the remarks in reaction to a recent Friday sermon titled “The 2025 International Youth Day and Their Importance in Islam,” shared through KosofePost.
He noted that youths are a vital part of national development, contributing significantly to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and other social indices. He however stressed that government must go beyond “audio promises” and political rhetoric to implement genuine policies that guarantee employment opportunities.
“Youths are the strength of the economy globally. They should be encouraged to avoid social vices such as drug abuse, robbery, hooliganism, banditry, and cultism. Job creation must be initiated genuinely by government. It should be noted that youths are easy recruits to crime, but when they are engaged, the crime rate will drastically reduce,” Awofeso said.