The major reason I went into politics in 2013 was my concern on the state of the youths especially those from my creed.
I had a desire to see the youth imbibing my way of life which had largely served me well at that time till today and I thought that it was possible for every other person to achieve same with the possession of certain principles which must be consistent.
The most important of such principles was openness to acquire network and skills. Consequently, my NGO named, ‘One Heart Initiative for Equity and Good Leadership’ birthed the #30PercentOrNothing which aimed at speaking to the youths to acquire the needed skills for self-reliant as well as to encourage the government and private sector to utilise the youths to solve current problems.
This however came with a caveat that the recruitment of such youths must be objective enough to ensure that the appropriate skills required for the assignment were sufficiently available.
I was also part of the speakers at Aisha Buhari’s ‘Just the Beginning’ programme alongside Festus Keyamo and co, which held at the Banquet Hall of the State House in 2015 to engage with youths and celebrate President Muhammadu Buhari’s ascension to the presidency. In the event, I had told the youths present to cease from antagonising the Jonathan presidency and utilise their social media handles in propagating the policies of government which their followers could key into.
Against such backdrop, I had supported and written different articles on issues I had seen which had conformed to the narrative above and just recently on Thursday, 26th August, 2021, a committee that will see to the digitalisation of the governing party was initiated. It was not the digitisation attempt that caught my attention because the opposition had also initiated the digital registration of members in recent times, it was the recruitment of the individuals to manage the process that moved me because it was indeed in line with our ideals.
Any young man reading this by any means may choose to understand the importance of skills acquisition and imbibe same.
Mangrovetech Construction and Engineering Limited was also a beneficiary of such ideals when in 2010 professionals were recruited to help in executing the provision of engineering infrastructure at Maitama Extension District project in the FCT, Abuja, a project which was the first of its kind to be awarded to an indigenous company in the FCT. 16 of us were recruited after a rigorous process. The rest about the success of the project can be found with the FCDA but it indeed showcased how far objective recruitment can go in the successes of ventures.
Therefore, the constitution of the committee with Mr Kashifu, heading such a critical committee that has the mandate that includes the formulation of strategy for the 2023 election deserves commendation.
With the digitisation committee and the recruitment of its chairman, it does appear that the committee is ready to deliver on its assignment.
From the mandate of the committee, the ruling party has created a formidable mechanism to communicate with the youths which constitutes over 70 per cent of the voting population. Only the youths understand the language of their constituency. Our initial movement of 2014 was unsung to a large extent because of the absence of resources and a formidable platform. But now the party has positioned itself for entrenchment in the Nigerian polity for a long time to come.
All of us at One Heart Initiative for Equity and Good Leadership identify with this lofty idea and are open to provide any needed support because we believe strongly that the development of the Nigerian youths could lead to the cessation of many of the problems currently bedeviling our dear nation.
– Suleiman wrote in from Abuja.
