As Nigeria celebrates 66 years of independence, Youth Structure 4 Asiwaju (YS4A), popularly known as Asiwaju Boys and Girls, has urged young Nigerians to take greater advantage of government-backed opportunities in education, consumer credit and economic empowerment.
The group said access to such programmes could help young people acquire skills, strengthen their livelihoods and contribute more meaningfully to Nigeria’s economic development.
The call was made in an Independence Day message issued by YS4A Secretariat Director, High Chief Godfrey Omoarebu Ogbeide, MBA, MSBA, who described youth participation as critical to building a more united and prosperous country.
YS4A Calls for Purposeful Youth Participation
Ogbeide said Nigeria’s 66th Independence Anniversary should provide an opportunity for citizens, particularly young people, to reflect on their role in the country’s future.
He urged youths to move beyond simply discussing national challenges and instead take practical steps to improve their education, skills, businesses and livelihoods.
“As Nigeria marks 66 years of independence, may God unite our hearts in love and justice,” he said.
According to him, national development cannot be achieved by government alone. Citizens must also be willing to take responsibility, pursue opportunities and contribute positively to their communities.
He said young Nigerians, who represent a significant part of the country’s population, have an important role to play in shaping the nation’s economic and social future.
Education Loans Highlighted as Opportunity for Young Nigerians
One of the initiatives highlighted by the youth organisation is the student-loan programme administered through the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND).
Ogbeide encouraged eligible young Nigerians to explore available education-financing opportunities as a means of gaining access to higher education and developing skills needed in the modern economy.
For the group, access to education is closely connected to the ability of young people to secure better employment, develop businesses and contribute to national productivity.
YS4A therefore urged youths not merely to see government programmes as financial assistance, but as opportunities that should be converted into long-term personal and economic development.
Consumer Credit Could Support Economic Participation
The group also drew attention to consumer-credit opportunities provided through the Nigerian Consumer Credit Corporation (CREDICORP).
Ogbeide said access to responsible consumer credit could help eligible Nigerians meet important financial needs and strengthen their ability to participate in economic activities.
He encouraged young people to approach such opportunities with discipline and a focus on productive outcomes.
The broader message from YS4A was that government initiatives can have greater impact when citizens understand how to use them responsibly and connect them to education, skills development, entrepreneurship and sustainable livelihoods.
From Awareness to Action
Ogbeide said YS4A’s philosophy is built around Participation, Involvement and Execution (PIE).
He explained that the approach encourages young Nigerians to move beyond awareness of government programmes and become active participants in initiatives that can improve their lives and communities.
“Through PIE, YS4A calls on youth to turn these opportunities into purposeful action and shared prosperity,” he said.
The philosophy, according to the group, reflects the need for young people to take ownership of their personal development rather than waiting entirely for government intervention.
Education, skills acquisition, enterprise and responsible citizenship, Ogbeide suggested, should form part of a broader strategy through which young Nigerians can contribute to national development.
Youths Have a Role in Nigeria’s Economic Future
Nigeria’s large youth population presents both an opportunity and a challenge for the country’s development.
For YS4A, providing access to education and economic opportunities is only one part of the equation. Young Nigerians must also be prepared to make productive use of those opportunities.
Ogbeide urged youths to develop their talents, acquire relevant skills and pursue sustainable sources of income.
He said the country’s future would depend partly on whether its young population could transform its energy, creativity and enterprise into productive economic activity.
That, he argued, requires a combination of government investment and individual responsibility.
A Message of Unity and Responsible Citizenship
Beyond economic opportunities, the Independence Day message also focused on unity, justice and responsible citizenship.
Ogbeide urged young Nigerians to contribute constructively to their communities and the wider country while recognising the importance of peaceful coexistence.
He said national progress requires citizens to work together despite differences and to focus on building opportunities that can benefit a wider section of society.
For YS4A, youth participation should therefore extend beyond politics to education, entrepreneurship, community development and other areas capable of strengthening Nigeria’s social and economic foundations.
Turning Opportunities Into Shared Prosperity
The group’s Independence Day message ultimately placed responsibility on both government and citizens.
Government initiatives can provide pathways to education, credit and economic participation, but their success also depends on whether citizens are able and willing to use those opportunities effectively.
Ogbeide urged young Nigerians to make their talents, energy and enterprise count as the country moves into another year of independence.
He reaffirmed YS4A’s commitment to encouraging youth participation and constructive engagement, stressing that national development should be a shared responsibility.
As Nigeria marks 66 years of independence, the message from YS4A is that the country’s young population should not simply wait for opportunities to emerge. Instead, young Nigerians should identify available programmes, acquire the skills needed to succeed and turn access into meaningful economic and social progress.
The group said such purposeful participation would help strengthen livelihoods while contributing to the broader goal of building a Nigeria founded on opportunity, unity and shared prosperity.
