The bishop of Anglican Communion, Ibadan South Diocese, Rt. Rev. Akintunde Popoola has called on the Federal Government to make fundamental the youth employment policy in order to curb violence in Nigeria.
The Bishop made the call at a news conference in Ibadan on Monday, stating that the current crisis facing the country’s economy is not far from the problem posed by unemployment.
Popoola said, “It is a recognizable fact that there are barriers confronting the nation’s economy among which are unemployment, infrastructural challenges, devaluation, inadequate security, corruption and power failure to mention a few.
“Statistics show that a lot of blue and white collar jobs have been lost in the last five years. The rate of graduate unemployment has pushed many into postgraduate studies, only to finish and still be struggling for jobs even where the entry qualification is the Ordinary National Diploma.”
He admonished the government to live up to the task of reviving the nation’s economy by coming up with plans that will restructure the country, praying that newly elected and appointed leaders will give their best in office in order to truly restructure the country and avoid violent restructuring through revolution or religious and tribal conflicts.
Reacting to recent criminal allegations against some clerics, Popoola said, “We have a process that ensures such issues are investigated and whoever is found guilty of such crime or indiscipline is dealt with.”
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the conference is a part of the two-week activities lined up to mark the 20th anniversary of the Ibadan South Diocese of the Anglican Communion.
The celebration expected to end July 21 would feature an anniversary lecture entitled: “A Going Church Makes a Growing Church,” revivals, a mega rally, final of the inter-archdeaconries football competition and Holy Communion services.
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