Commandant Calls for Positive…

The Commandant National Defence College Nigeria (NDC) Rear Admiral Mackson Makanju Kadiri has called for positive engagement of youths in positive activities and gainful employment as one of the steps towards addressing the issues of youth restiveness and social instability in the country. The commandant made the call when he addressed participants at a “Roundtable on Youths Restiveness and Social Instability in Nigeria: Role of Governance” organised by the Centre of Strategic Research and Studies, NDC in collaboration with the Central Bank of Nigeria. The event which was held recently at the NDC Officers’ Mess had participants from the armed forces, paramilitary/ security agencies, MDAs and academic institutions in attendance.

Delivering the welcome remark at the event, Rear Admiral Mackson Kadiri, stated that “the inability of the youth to find meaningful life via honest means creates social imbalance that makes young people prone to some socio-economic vices such as electoral violence, kidnapping, armed robbery, internet fraud and so on” He added that there was a large youth population in the country that had not been optimal managed to effectively contribute to national security. Hence the cumulative effects of the situation had created national security challenges. However, he stated that the potentials of the nation’s youths could be put to good use with viable strategic options.

Commandant NDC Nigeria, Rear Admiral MM Kadiri

The special guest of honour at the event, the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Sports and Youth Development, Mr. Olusade Olusola in his keynote address stated that good governance was a potent tool that could be used to address youth restiveness and social instability. Also, he added that good governance comprised good citizen’s participation in decision making by the government; accountability of government; transparency in governance; rule of law as well as efficiency and effectiveness of governance. Furthermore, he mentioned, that every government must strive to ensure openness, responsiveness and inclusiveness in order to boost citizen’s confidence in the government.   He thereafter, urged the government to create conducive environment for youth engagement in profitable ventures in order to reduce the incidence of Youth restiveness and social instability.