PRESIDENT Jonathan has urged Nigerian Youth to sponsor a bill at the National Assembly seeking the removal of age barriers that restrict them from contesting presidential, governorship and National Assembly positions.
The President gave the charge yesterday in Abuja at the 1st Nigerian Young Professional Summit with the theme “Fostering National Integration and the Quest for Purposeful Leadership in Nigeria: The role of the Young Professional.”
He advised Nigerian youths to stop limiting their standard by requesting for affirmative percentage in elective and appointive positions, adding that if Yakubu Gowon could rule at 32 years, there is no reason a young Nigerian below 40 years cannot be president.
He said: “Asking for 35 per cent affirmative action is lowering your standard and limit. Stop comparing yourself with women who are just being allowed into governance. I will advise you to sponsor a bill to the National Assembly to remove age and other barriers preventing you from contesting for presidential, governorship and National Assembly positions.”
Jonathan also pledged that his administration will assist youths in ensuring that the bill is passed by the members of the National Assembly.
He appreciated youths for making the country proud in their undertakings, especially in sports.
He said the federal government has introduced various programmes to empower youths to take their place in the economy of the country.
“We know that education has a power to liberate a people. That is why we have established 14 new universities. We need young people like those of you at NYPF. We are doing a lot to give a lot of opportunities to young people.
“In addition to our Presidential scholarship, there are various schemes to empower the youths to thrive in our economy. We have discovered that young Nigerians are now interested in agriculture, and we are investing. We are also working on Local Content Policy for ICT.
Responding, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Youth and Student Matters, Comrade Jude Imagwe, promised that his office will do everything possible to ensure that the bill is sponsored.
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