By Habibu Harisu
Sokoto – A Non-Governmental Organisation, Pan African Institute for Global Affairs and Strategy (PAIGAS), has embarked on sensitisation of National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members against illegal migration.
Addressing the 2017 Corp members in Sokoto on Wednesday, PAIGAS President, Amb. Martin Uhomaibhi, said Nigeria had all the potential needed to become a productive nation and urged the youth to tap the opportunities.
Uhomaibhi , a retired Permanent Secretary of Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs, also called on youths to utilise creative opportunities and become self reliant.
He said Nigeria’s population was on the increase and that many organisations were providing employment opportunities and urged graduates to access them.
He described traveling through the desert and sea to Europe as a suicide, noting that about 7,000 Nigerians got missing out of about 37,000 who embarked on the journey in 2016.
Uhomaibhi said 68 percent of the figure comprised graduates who were lured into looking for greener pastures in the foreign lands.
He said such persons ended up being sex slaves and engaged in other vices.
“Power is obtained based on struggle and no leader relinquishes his throne easily, the recent Act of not too young to run shall be a window for the youths.
“Don’t let anybody to destroy your lives, any nation has its peculiar history and challenges, change your destiny as it is in your hands ’’ Uhomaibhi said.
According to him, PAIGAS is intensifying efforts to educate Nigerians on the dangers of illegal migration, and that its platforms were designed to cover all the 36 states of the federation.
“ I choose to tell Nigerians good stories of our potential after my civil service carrier and having worked at various nations across the globe, my experience provides directive lights for youths.
“I did my NYSC in Koko community in the defunct Sokoto State in 1976 and I am still serving because I was turbaned with traditional title of Danmajen Koko despite that I hail from Awato community in Edo State.
“Two of my students became Governors in present Kebbi State – Alhaji Adamu Alero and Alhaji Nasamu Dankingari,’’ he said.
Uhomaibhi, therefore, enjoined corps members to emulate him to continue to strive for the good of Nigerians.
The Coordinator of NYSC in the state, Alhaji Musa Abubakar, described illegal migration as detrimental to human development and commended Uhomaibhi for his courage.
Abubakar cautioned youths against being misled and urged them to focus their attention on proactive ways toward contributing to nation’s growth.
He said the NYSC was committed to empowering youths with various skills, sensitising them on patriotism and nation building to become productive both during their service year and in future.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Mr Terna Akiga and Mrs Femi Babagbanle, from PAIGAS also delivered lectures on dangers of illegal migration, drug abuse, prostitution and others vices to the corps members.
Uhomaibhi also at the occasion, inaugurated PAIGAS NYSC Ambassadors group to mobilise other youths on Nigeria’s rebranding and on dangers of illegal migration as well as educate them on the nation’s potential. (NAN)
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