By Daniel Dauda, Jos
The minister of Youths and Sports Development, Mr. Sunday Dare has said that since President Mohammadu Buhari came to office in 2015, he has initiated about 35 different youths focus programme aimed at addressing increasing rate of unemployment and poverty in the country.
Speaking on Monday in Jos, at the 60th anniversary of his alma-mata, Baptist High School, Jos, Dare also said, as
minister of Youth and sports Development, it is his responsibility to ensure that there are opportunities for the youths to contribute to the development of the country.
He however urged the youths to equip themselves in their chosen carriers by acquiring the necessary skills.
“Well, you know I see the two legs of the Nigerian youths to drive and get the change that we want.
“The first one has to do with Youths themselves because as a youth you must desire to be able to advance yourself about a particular carrier by discipline yourself. You must put yourself in the skills that are necessary.
“The second leg is that of government providing necessary opportunities for the youths by opening the windows and doors for the youths to have easy access”, he said.
According to him, in the last six and a half years, “we have about 35 different youth focus programme initiated by President Mohammadu Buhari and you must passed through a process before you benefit from it.”
“Unless you start a race, you cannot finish it. So unless our youths strive and be part of those opportunities they cannot benefit from it”, Dare advised the youths.
The minister who graduated from the school in the 1980s, promised to fixed the sporting facilities in the institution.
He also charged the management of the school to work out modalities for ensuring that students of the school, participate in the next National Principals’ Cup Competition, which he had painstakingly revived after 27 years of abandonment.
Also speaking at the occasion, the Principal of School, Deaconess Comfort Anunobi, applauded the minister for remembering his alma-mata. Anunobi who noted that the school had produced prominent personalities across Nigeria, urged the minister”to continue shining the light and paving ways for the younger generation.”
The school was established in 1961 by Baptist Church, with the aim of “providing holistic education with highest spiritual academic and moral standards.”
