Jonathan pledges more appointments for youths

Sources:  George Emine and Temidayo Badmus, Lagos 

President Goodluck Jonathan has vowed to include more youths in his administration if he is given a second term by Nigerians.
Speaking during an interactive session with young Nigerian entrepreneurs, entertainers and sports personalities in Lagos Sunday night, March 22, the president said he would avail young Nigerians in divers fields the opportunity to take up positions at all levels.
He said Nigerian youths cannot be ignored in the scheme of things, and as such he would support them to intensify their potential.
According to the president, if given the mandate in the next four years, he would keep on expanding the achievement of his first tenure and give the youth much more opportunities.
He said as a country, the nation must get ready for its future by putting resources into the youngsters, and that his administration had recently sworn-in one of the most youthful Nigerians to serve and would give the youngsters more of such opportunities.
“A father must anticipate that his kids will be superior to him. We must buckle down and energise the youngsters,” he said.

The president expressed gratitude to Nigerians for backing him in making progress in the battle against Ebola and that government would continue to do more in pursuing noteworthy adventures.
Expressing gratitude to the multitude of Nigerian youths both at home and in the Diaspora who joined the session through Skype, the president also seized the opportunity to congratulate the country’s U-20 football team for winning the African Youth Championship in Dakar, stressing that he would continue to empower sportsmen, and that an extraordinary store would be set up to guarantee that the individuals who had done the country glad were not deserted.
Speaking on behalf of the youths, former football international and Super Eagles star, Austin Jay Okocha, who now holds office as chairman of Delta Football Association, commended the president for his accomplishments and said that sportsmen of Delta State especially would work assiduously towards his reelection.
“Your example of overcoming adversity justifies itself,” he said.
The NFA president, Amaj Pinnick and sports minister, Tam Danagogo, also commended the president for all he had done to improve sports in the country during his tenure.
In a related development, Abuja Entertainers, an umbrella body of all entertainers in Abuja comprising actors, musicians, comedians, models, as well as other genres of the entertainment industry, also on Sunday in Abuja held a solidarity concert to campaign for President Jonathan for a second term in office.
Led by the governor of the Performing Musicians and Employers Association of Nigeria, PMAN, Mr Collins Adeyemi, the group organised the concert, according to them, to say thank you to President Jonathan for what he had done for the industry so far.
The event, which took place at the Blakes Excellent Resort, Garki, Abuja, witnesses a large turnout as artistes came out in their numbers to show solidarity for the president.
According to one of the organisers, and chairman of the Actors Guild of Nigeria, Abuja chapter, Onwurah Agility, “There is nothing too much to do for Mr President because he has shown so much love to the industry. That is why we have come out in our numbers to show support for him and to spur him to do more of the entertainment industry, and for Nigerian youths in general.”