Mr Biliamin Oba, Senior Special Assistance to Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos state, has urged Nigerians to cut down on expenses to adapt to present economic challenges facing the country.
Oba gave the advice during the 2024 International Youth Day organised by National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN), Olorunda Local Council Development Area (LCDA) Chapter, on Tuesday, in Badagry.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the theme of the event was: “From Clicks to Progress: Youth Digital Pathways For Sustainable Development”.
Oba, who was a former Chairman of NYCN Lagos, said the present situation in the country demanded all hands to be on deck.
“We need to start cutting our costs, pending the time things will stabilise.
“Everything has increased, transportation cost and standard of living have skyrocketed.
“We have to reduce costs. The present situation has become a burden on us, so we have to be economical.
“I am very sure President Bola Tinubu has great plan for this country and Sanwo-Olu is also working round the clock to ensure Lagos remains the best place for all and sundry,” he said.
Oba commended Ashade Abdulsalam for organising the programme to enrich the youths in the council.
Speaking on the theme, Mr Afeez Iyiola, the Chief Executive Officer, Coach Africa, said youths were the future of now not tomorrow.
“Well, like I say, youths are the future, the future is no more tomorrow, the future is now.
“I’m telling every youth to maximise digital platform to become great.
“Youths need to be very patient, resilient. They need to understand that they are going to fail, but when you fail, you’re going to come back to become stronger.
“I want youths to begin to embrace failure as a way of becoming better.
“Failure has been depriving them of what they can be. The future is the youths and the future is now, so the youths need to stand up now,” he said.
Also, Justice Oluwole Ashade of Lagos State High Court, Yaba, said that the youths must be fully engaged to dedicate to progress and sustainable development.
According to him, digital technology is no longer just a tool for communication but for serious business.
The Divisional Police Officer (DPO), Badagry Police Station, Mr Folajimi Agosile, urged the youths to desist from committing crime and drugs.
According to him, many youths with brighter future have destroyed their life due to drugs and bad group.
In his remark, Alhaji AbdulSalam Ashade, the Coordinator, NYCN, Olorunda LCDA Chapter, said the aim of the programme was to improve youth’s on social media handling.
He said the journey as the coordinator of the council youths so far had not been easy.
He commended the people that had worked with him to steer the canoe of NYCN in the council.
“I want specially appreciate the Chairman of Olorunda LCDA, Mr Samson Olatunde, for his support since the inception of the administration, thank you so much sir.
“I want to appreciate all my executives for the journey so far be it good and bad it is part of this journey, the road to success is always under construction and it is always rough.
“Both the people that supported the administration and the people that did not support are both part of your success,” he said.
NAN reports that some executive members of the chapter were awarded trophies and gifts at the end of the programme.