By joshua 
Invest more on entrepreneurship to create sources of livelihood, eradicate poverty, Ex. COAS Advises FG.
The former Chief of Army Staff, Lt. General Tukur Yusuf Buratai (rtd) has called on government at all levels to invest more on entrepreneurship to create sources of livelihood to eradicate poverty, insurgents among Nigerian youth .
Buratai stated this on Wednesday when he delivered the 18th Distinguished Public Lecture series of the Federal University Lokoja on Wednesday at the Felele campus of the institution in Lokoja, Kogi state.
Speaking on the topic “Youth, Governance, and Countering Violent Extremism: Rethinking Nigeria’s Security Strategy” the former Chief of Staff and the current Nigeria’s Ambassador to Republic of Benin, stated that 75 per cent of the terrorists and bandits are youth , noting that the high poverty level among the youth of this country made them susceptible for terrorist recruitment.
“If we do not reach out to our young people, we leave them to be recruited by criminal gangs or extremist organizations or foreign powers.
“But once we empower them , then they will not only be defenders of Nigeria and safeguards of her peace- they will be the ones to set its future. Every institution will have to be redesigned with the next generation in mind.
“This is not the philosophy of idealism. It is the peasant pragmatism. Youth centred approaches have been proven both successful and imperative to building post-conflict stability and. resilience in such countries as Tunisia, Kenya, Colombia, and. Rwanda. Nigeria needs to learn, adjust and take the lead” he said.