By Bridget Ikyado
Malam Isah Suliaman, the Deputy Imam, Navy Estate Central Mosque, Karishi, Abuja has charged Nigerian youths to brace up for nation building.
The Imam made the call in an interview on Monday in Abuja.
He said the future of the nation’s youth required that “they use acquire skills to earn a living and not allow themselves to be used as political thugs during elections.’’
“Practically, every youth has one talent or the other, all they need is to develop this talent and explore it to be self-reliant for societal growth.
“I advise youths in the country to use their God-given talents for nation-building and shun social vices capable of giving Nigeria a bad name.”
The cleric said “time has come when every Nigerian should elect visionary leaders, who will make the country great and not vote buyers, who have selfish interest.”
He specifically implored the youths to strive toward a better society by imbibing skills that would make them assets to the society.
Besides, he called on the government to initiate policies that would address the challenges facing young people to give them a sense of belonging.
The Imam said it would enable them to contribute to societal development.
He said the management of the mosque had organised a programme where contemporary issues were discusses.
“We chat with the youths, we talk on issues such as social vices and the dangers involved, we also talk about means to develop them the family society at large.”
The Muslim cleric said peace and security for development were dominant at such events.
The Imam said that Islam, which is an Arabic word, was derived from Salam which means peace, adding that without peace, they would be no progress.
He called on leaders to come together and discuss challenges facing young people and how to invest in them for development.
Sulaiman said they had gone out and within the mosque advising their members on the need to vote and be voted for.
He further advised the youths to strive toward taking over the nation’s leadership, saying that such could only be possible if they worked very hard to become productive.
The Imam called on government to restructure the country for inclusive governance, justice and development, which would go a long way to curbing insecurity.