Businessman and philanthropist, Alhaji Nura Hussain Medamask, has called on Nigerian youths to embrace entrepreneurship and skill acquisition as sustainable pathways to reducing unemployment and driving the country’s economic growth.
Medamask said Nigeria’s large youth population should be seen as an economic asset rather than a burden, stressing that empowering young people with practical skills and business opportunities would help address poverty, unemployment and other socio-economic challenges confronting the nation.
He noted that while government intervention remains important, the private sector, development partners, successful entrepreneurs and community leaders also have critical roles to play in mentoring young people, supporting vocational training and creating opportunities for youth-owned businesses to flourish.
According to him, sectors such as agriculture, livestock production, manufacturing, information and communication technology (ICT), the creative industry, renewable energy and digital services offer enormous opportunities for wealth creation if young people are properly equipped with the required knowledge and entrepreneurial skills.
He urged youths to cultivate innovation, discipline, integrity and financial management, describing them as essential qualities for building sustainable businesses capable of creating jobs and contributing to national development.
Medamask further stressed that increased investment in entrepreneurship and youth empowerment would not only improve livelihoods but also reduce the growing incidence of crime, drug abuse and other social vices by providing young people with legitimate sources of income and hope for the future.
He also called for stronger collaboration among government agencies, educational institutions, financial institutions, development organisations and the private sector to create an enabling environment for entrepreneurship, affordable financing and business development services for young Nigerians.
Medamask expressed confidence that with sustained investment in youth development and entrepreneurship, Nigeria could harness the energy and creativity of its young population to build a more productive economy, create employment opportunities and achieve inclusive and sustainable national growth.