Don’t Japa, Tinubu urges youths to stay, build Nigeria

President Bola Tinubu on Friday made a direct appeal to Nigerian youths to remain in the country and contribute to its development, telling them that Nigeria’s future belonged to those who stayed to solve its problems rather than those who chose to leave.

In his Democracy Day address, his fourth since assuming office in May 2023, the President said, “To our young people: Nigeria is your home and your future. Build here, code here, work here, and vote here. Every great nation was built by those who stayed to solve problems, not by those who abandoned ship.”

The appeal comes against the backdrop of sustained “japa” emigration trends that have seen large numbers of young, skilled Nigerians, particularly in technology, healthcare and academia, relocate abroad in search of better economic prospects.

Tinubu said Nigeria’s democratic dividend must now translate into tangible economic outcomes for its citizens, particularly the youth.

“Democracy must be felt in the pocket,” he said, pointing to initiatives such as the Nigerian Education Loan Fund, the National Agricultural Development Fund’s deployment of 10,000 tractors over five years, and the certification of over 1,000 SMEs for export as part of efforts to expand domestic opportunity.

He said the generation now coming of age carried a distinct historical responsibility.

He stated, “Every generation has a defining responsibility. The generation of our founding fathers secured independence. The generation of June 12 secured democracy. Our generation must secure prosperity.”

With three years of experience, Stephen, The PUNCH correspondent, has been covering Nigeria’s presidency, politics, security, immigration and trafficking in persons

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