Uyo, 21 July, 2024 / 4:05 pm (ACI Africa).
Youths in Nigeria face numerous challenges, which the government needs to pay attention to, Bishop John Ebebe Ayah of Nigeria’s Catholic Diocese of Uyo has said.
In an interview with ACI Africa on the sidelines of a three-day leadership Retreat that the Pastoral Agents Department of the Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria (CSN) organized, bringing together National Chaplains, Sister Advisors, and Presidents of Lay Apostolate Groups in Nigeria, Bishop Ayah said the challenges are profound, and that the reasons behind the 2020 EndSARS protests have not been addressed.
“The challenges facing Nigerian youths are multifaceted and profound, encompassing high unemployment rates, limited access to quality education, and inadequate healthcare services. Economic opportunities remain scarce, perpetuating cycles of poverty and thwarting aspirations for personal and professional growth,” he said during the July 12 interview.
The Nigerian Catholic Bishop added, “Our young people today follow events very closely. The insurrection by the youth in 2020 was something for us to begin to think about how to address the plight of our young people.”
“It was quelled down the last time, but it's like a time bomb brewing and I tell you sincerely, Nigeria as a nation will not survive another EndSARS protest organized by the youths over government neglect and hardship because the youths have over the years not been cared for,” Bishop Ayah said.
