Solomon Dalung, former Minister of Youth and Sports Development, has made a passionate plea to Nigerian youths to remain in the country and contribute to its development, rather than seeking opportunities abroad.
Speaking at an event over the weekend to commemorate the 2024 International Youth Day, Dalung emphasized that despite the challenges, there is no place better than Nigeria.
Drawing from his extensive travels to over 70 countries, Dalung shared his personal realization that nowhere else offers the same sense of belonging and potential for comfort as Nigeria does. “I want to discourage every young person who has the instinct to ‘Japa’.
I have traveled to over 70 countries around the world and discovered that there is nowhere I can live as comfortably as in Nigeria,” Dalung stated.
He urged the youth to channel their frustrations into positive action aimed at improving the country.
“There is no place better than Nigeria, and Nigeria can work. So let’s change our frustration into positivity and begin to see how we can make this country better for all of us. I am anti-Japa. Nobody should go anywhere; this is our country,” Dalung continued.
Dalung also called for unity and strategic thinking among Nigerian youths to access power and leadership positions.
He reassured them that many from his generation support their ambitions and are fighting for their inclusion in governance. “To the young people in Nigeria, I think my last words would be that there are quite a number of our generation that believe in you.
All you need to do is reorganize yourselves, come together, and begin to ask reasonable questions to gain access to power and leadership,” Dalung advised.
He concluded by expressing his hope that the younger generation will succeed where the older generation has faced challenges, emphasizing that their dreams should not be frustrated.
Dalung’s message resonates as a call for Nigerian youths to take ownership of their future by staying, uniting, and working towards a better Nigeria.
His remarks highlight the importance of perseverance and the belief that the country’s challenges can be overcome with collective effort and strategic action.
