Group calls for sustained investment in Nigerian youths to fast track technological development
Investment
By Emmanuel Acha
Enugu, Feb. 18, 2020 (NAN) A non-governmental organisation (NGO) known as Nigerian Students and Youths Association (NSYA) has called for sustained investment in Nigerian youths to fast-track the technological development of the country.
The National President of the association, Mr Foster Ekenta, made the call on Wednesday when the group paid a courtesy visit to the Enugu zonal office of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).
The association noted that the youths held the key to technological advancement of the country.
Ekenta said that such investment had become necessary for the country to leverage on the abundant talents in the country to develop the economy.
He said that the move would also ward off brain drain which had affected technology and innovations in the country.
The president said that governments at all levels needed to create the enabling environment for Nigerian youths to thrive.
He said that the government had no reason to look elsewhere for solutions to the myriads of challenges in Nigeria when there were talented young innovators in all parts of the country.
He cited the example of one Emeka Nelson in Anambra who invented a power generating set that operated with water.
Ekenta said that it was sad that four years after the invention and its public display, “the government or even corporate organisations have not shown interest in such innovation.
“This is the type of innovation that will solve the power problem in the country and a lot of investors will come in to partner with the inventor once the government shows interest.
“This is because a lot of people view something that is not backed up by the government as a scam,” he said.
Ekenta said that every innovation that would move the country forward was within noting that the problem was malfunctioned system.
“The bureaucracy here is frustrating,” Ekenta said.
Also, the Chairman, Board of Trustees of the association, Mr Ekene Oji, said that the government needed to take the bold step of test-running the power generating machine.
Oji said that if a young Nigerian without tertiary education could invent such machine, then the future of this country was bright.
“We must look within to solve our problems in this country instead of seeking help from other countries. We are one of the groups that believe that Nigeria can actually work. We must invest in our youths.
“We have talented innovators that need to be supported by the government,” he said.
He urged the Federal Ministry of Science and Technology to develop and pursue realistic scientific goals and not to embark on projects that could seem bogus.
Oji said that the mission of the association was to assist young investors and entrepreneurs to excel.
Responding, the NAN South East Zonal Manager, Mrs Maureen Atuonwu, thanked the association for seeking to partner with the agency.
Atuonwu said that NAN would do its best to propagate the activities of the association for the benefit of Nigerians.
She said that the agency had the manpower and wide coverage to reach Nigerians and the rest of the world. (NAN)
EOA/MNA
Edited by Maureen Atuonwu