[OPINION] Tinubu has renewed the hope of youths with Betta Edu’s nomination as Minister

There have been agitations by Nigerian youths and women for their inclusion into the leadership and governance process of the country.

The struggle by the youth gave birth to the Not Too Young To Run (NTYTR) law of 2018. With the law in place, one would have thought the much younger generation of 30 to 40 years will take the center stage already dominated by the old generation.

Despite the law, not much is achieved in the youth inclusiveness in governance since it’s difficult for the youth to compete favourably with older leaders who have been in the stage for longer time and might know the tricks, having the connections and the financial muscle to manipulate the political system in their favour.

The youth and women should cry no more for President Bola Tinubu has come to wipe their tears with his recent body language and appointments, especially with the list of Ministerial Nominees sent to the National Assembly on Thursday 27th, July 2023.

With the nomination of Dr Betta Edu, the President has renewed the hope of the youths as the leaders of tomorrow.

The youths and women can now breathe that they have a government that give the youth and elderly equal opportunities for all inclusive governance.

With the nomination and subsequent appointment of young Dr Betta as Minister, it will inspire other young Nigerians and the women folks to work hard knowing that there’s no impendment to accomplishing their dreams and aspirations in life.

The nomination of Dr Edu has created a positive feedback that the government of President Tinubu is youth friendly and wants the younger generation to contribute to the performance of his government and giving them the courage to venture into politics in future.

With the nomination of Dr Betta and other youths into President Tinubu’s cabinet, there will be continuous harmonious relationship between the older generation and the younger ones in the areas of capacity building for future leadership improvement.

President Bola Tinubu should be celebrated across party lines, religions and ethnicity for giving the youth the needed space to actualize their full potentials as leaders of today and tomorrow.

His dedication to building Nigerian youths right from when he was a Governor of Lagos State, is worthy of commendations and emulation by other leaders.

I want sincerely appreciate the President for this gesture of the nomination of Dr Betta Edu and his willingness to challenge the status quo of the older generation by recognizing among the first nomination.

Comrade Samson Otokpa
Public Affairs Commentator
Writes from Abuja.