LASG MOVES TO BOOST YOUTH ENROLMENT IN MILITARY, OTHERS 

… As NDLEA Warns Against Drug Abuse 

The Lagos State Government has launched an initiative to encourage youth enrollment in the Nigerian Armed Forces as well as curb human trafficking. 

The State Commissioner for Special Duties and Intergovernmental Relations, Mr. Olugbenga Oyerinde made this known on Thursday at a seminar organised by the Ministry to improve the enrolment of Lagos indigenous youths into the Nigerian Armed Forces and enlightenment programme on prohibition of trafficking in persons. 

He said, the seminar, themed “Ignite: Sparkling Passion and Purpose”, aims to motivate the youth and equip them with the energy needed to overcome life’s challenges, saying “It is meant to give our youths the much-needed energy in life to face the challenges or obstacles on their life journey”. 

The Commissioner noted that statistics have revealed a drastic reduction in the enrolment of youths from the State into the Nigerian Armed Forces and the Police, hence the need to sensitise them on the benefits of joining the Armed Forces. 

Oyerinde also highlighted the challenges faced by youths, including unemployment, inability to access soft loans for small scale businesses, and lack of relevant skills to take up available job opportunities. He stated that the T.H.E.M.E.S agenda and the inclusiveness programmes of the current administration were aimed at addressing youth unemployment and promoting gender balance. 

Oyerinde noted that unemployment is a major challenge facing the youth and rejecting opportunities in the military, police force and paramilitary could be a major regret later in life. He added that many youths from the southwest have not taken advantage of the opportunity of the student loan initiated by the government due to misconceptions. 

“We want to see a large scale of youths enrolling for this program so that there will be room for competition. We don’t want any shortfall, any shortfall when they are doing that enrollment”, he said. 

In a similar vein, Hon. (Dr.) Rauf Olawale Age-Sulaiman, Chairman House Committee on Special Duties, Intergovernmental Relations, and Central Business District, has urged youths to embrace military and police jobs. He noted that the Ministry of Special Duties is saddled with the problem of intergovernmental relations, which has to do with the relationship between the states and the federal government. 

Age-Sulaiman also addressed the issue of difficulties faced by applicants during the recruitment process and assured that the ministry will come up with the right way to resolve the issues. 

In the same vein, Mrs. Islamiyah Opakunle, Deputy Director, Federal Character Commission (FCC), urged parents to motivate their children to join the military, stressing that it is not a death trap. Islamiyah emphasised that the military is a noble profession that offers opportunities for young people to serve their country.