President Muhammadu Buhari advised Nigerian youths Saturday in Daura, Katsina State, to look beyond culture, ethnicity, and religion when relating with one another, urging more travels, mixing, tolerance, and negotiations to appreciate the country’s rich diversity.
President Buhari, who received members of the National Youth Service Corps serving in Daura at his country residence, stated that regular interaction and a broader vision of Nigeria as a whole will improve relationships, particularly among youths.
“I really appreciate you coming to see me. I haven’t been home since Sallah a year ago. And my focus has been on Nigeria, which is much larger than my hometown.
“Every time I meet former Head of State Gen. Yakubu Gowon, I always thank him for the NYSC, which allows people to travel throughout Nigeria.”
“There were people who had never moved out of their locality before the NYSC,” he explained.
According to the President, the scheme has broadened many people’s horizons and reduced tensions and misunderstandings between strangers over the years.
“When I first joined the army, I was stationed in Abeokuta, then in Lagos.” “I’ve also travelled throughout Nigeria,” he explained.
The President encouraged the youth Corps to continue broadening their perspectives on life and opportunities, as well as to avoid the constraints of culture, ethnicity, and religion by leveraging technology to network across borders, ensuring personal development and a more competitive means of livelihood.
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“We’ve arrived at a point where you don’t need to get an education and start looking for government jobs.” What happens when the government job is no longer available? “You get educated and prepared for larger opportunities, which are mostly provided by technology,” he explained.
The President stated that youth and all Nigerians must learn to coexist.
Douglas Damina, Corps Liaison Officer (CLO), thanked the President for encouraging the continuation of the NYSC and promoting youth inclusion and empowerment in his remarks.
“We pray, Mr President, that the Almighty God accepts your prayers and remembers your sacrifices for the country,” he said.
Damina informed the President that the Corps members had made significant contributions to community development, including the renovation of three motor boreholes, the training of 350 youths in various skills, and the promotion of proper hygiene, particularly among women.
For the celebration, the President gave the corps members two bulls, ten rams, and N1,000,000 (one million naira).
