At a public hearing on Thursday, stakeholders expressed support for the proposed bill, Youth Entrepreneurship Development Trust Fund, which calls for 5% of yearly capital estimates to be given to the trust fund.
Hon. Farah Dagogo, who represents Rivers State’s Degema/Bonny Federal Constituency, sponsored the bill.
After passing second reading in the House of Representatives, the measure was put to a public hearing in accordance with legislative procedure.
In his introductory remarks, the bill’s sponsor stated that if approved into law, the Youth Entrepreneurship Development Trust Fund Bill will directly fund youth companies and will also assist Nigerian teenagers in starting their own firms rather than going for white collar jobs.
“We also condemn the Nigerian police’s subsequent arrest of him.” Sowore’s life has been endangered before for just speaking out for freedom and justice.
“The Nigerian authorities must release him immediately.” Those who have attacked him in the past and present must be brought to justice.
“Sowore, like all Nigerians, has the right to peacefully express themselves.”
He emphasized the relevance of the bill, saying that once their minds are turned to starting their own businesses with money in the form of a loan or grant readily available, many of them will no longer be available for vices.
“What went wrong with Nigerian youngsters, and how can we turn things around so that they may become more useful and vital to entrepreneurial change?”
“This is the heart of the Bill. This Bill is gigantic, huge, titanic, and a road plan for securing Nigerian adolescents’ futures. When passed, it will give the remedy for re-inventing the economy and eradicating poverty, with youths leading the charge as revolutionaries, ” he stated.
Speaker of the House, represented by the Majority Leader, Hon. Alhassan Ado Doguwa, said the 9th House of Representatives are desirous of providing legislations that would have long lasting positive effects on the well being of the youths.
Chairman of the Committee, Hon. Yemi Adaramodu lauded the sponsor of the bill. He dismissed claims that the youths have been catered for in various youth programme, pointing out that ‘the so called intervention programme’ were not backed by law and as such difficult to monitor.
A Professor in the Department of History and International Studies, Kogi State University, Prof Patrick Ukase, expressed joy ‘ that there is a consensus on youth unemployment’ and an urgent need to arrest the situation with the idea surrounding the bill.
Similarly, Prof Sam Otamiri of the Ignatius Ajuru University, Rivers State described the bill as an idea that should be encouraged. He said the bill is a clear solution to the problems of youth unemployment.
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