An elder statesman, Tanko Yakasai says the government must immediately address the menace of unemployment, warning that unemployed youth could be easily incited.
He advised the government to look towards empowerment programmes to keep the youths busy and off the streets.
Tanko Yakasai, who was a Liaison Officer to President Shehu Shagari, gave the advice in an interview with Vanguard published on Monday.
The elder statesman said he has 60 grandchildren most of whom were jobless at one point until an empowerment programme introduced by an American company lifted them out of the situation.
Speaking on the lingering ASUU strike and menace of unemployed graduates, the nonagenarian said, “I have over 60 grandchildren and most of them had no jobs.
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“There was a programme they did for one year that empowered them. My son who is in London saw the programme and liaised with this American company. He sold the idea to his own company who bought the idea
“They got the equipment for the training and the company pumped money into the project. He sold the idea to his brother who told me and I said, I have 60 grandchildren, 20 of which had completed their university education then. I asked that they be trained.
“The training was something one could do from home, office or from anywhere. I now advised my grandchildren and they participated in the programme and got jobs.
There were lots of programmes like this. The government should get some of these empowerment programmes and involve the youths to keep them busy.
“Idleness exposes youths to those who incite them into doing things they ordinarily would not do. The government should settle its issues with ASUU so that students will go back to school.”
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