By Ezechukwu Chidozie
A Presidential aspirant under the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Sen. Anyim Pius Anyim, has promised Nigerian youths that his administration would create opportunities for the youth to excel.
He stated this on Tuesday when he received members of the youth Democratic Movement in his campaign office in Abuja.
He recalled his own trajectory in the public service of Nigeria saying that he had the privilege of holding high positions in government as a youth.According to him, he first got elected into the Senate at 37 years and became the President of the Senate at 39 years.
The presidential aspirant said that based on his own experience, he knows that it is advantageous to appoint young people into offices, but that they must be young people who have something to offer to the country.
The former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) acknowledged that young people have the advantage of strength, and drive and perform at their optimum when given the opportunity to serve.
“As a younger person, you have energy, as a younger person, you have the drive, as a younger person, your senses are sharp, your brain is sharp, as a younger person, your body can endure, you can work overnight and still come out in the morning strong and able,” he said.
Anyim reeled out both Nigerians and international figures that made landmark achievements in their youth and charged his visitors to go and make their marks.
“It is not enough to demand for appointments into government positions for the youth.
“The youth must step forward and show interest and participate in the governance process.
“When you get involved you give weight to your demands,” he said.
He also assured that women, physically challenged persons and Nigerians in the diaspora would be mainstreamed in his administration.
Earlier, the leader of the delegation of the Youth Democratic Movement, Mr. Erhagbai Olajide Christmas, told Sen. Anyim that they came to see him to confirm what they have been reading that he plans to do for the Youth if he gets elected as president of Nigeria in 2023.
Mr. Olajide said they are particularly excited that Sen. Anyim is the only presidential aspirant that has given deep thoughts to the emergent world economic and social direction to be driven by the 4th industrial revolution and has taken that into account in his vision for a greater Nigeria.
“We read your keynote speech at the Delta North Youth Summit in Asaba, Delta State last week and we concluded that any aspirant that showed that level of understanding of the challenges facing the Nigerian youth with such clear road map on how to engage the energy and creativity of the Nigerian youths for national transformation deserves the support of the youth. That is what we have come to tell you today,” he said.