Boy’s Brigade Urges Govt To Place Youth At Centre Of National Dev’t

By; JULIET NONYE, Kaduna

The President of the Boys’ Brigade (BB) Nigeria, Kaduna State Council, Abraham Gaga has called on the federal government to prioritise the involvement of young people in nation building, stressing that Nigeria cannot achieve meaningful development while sidelining its youths.

Speaking during the 65th Independence Day celebration organised by the Kudansa Battalion Council of the BB in Kaduna, Gaga said it was time for the government to begin to look inward and harness the capacity of Nigerian youths as the “forefront runners” of national growth.

“The youth are important; we cannot put them aside, we cannot neglect them. We call on the Ministry of Youth to be proactive, to be committed, and to see that we have the youths and we have the capacity to bring change to the nation,” he said.

He warned that the country must not leave its young population behind if it hopes to forge ahead towards a better Nigeria.

On the menace of drug abuse among youth, Gaga noted that addicts should be seen as victims rather than criminals, urging the government to strengthen policies on drug importation and consumption.

“A drug user is actually a victim, and so we must help them and bring them out of that situation. If you go into drugs, you destroy your life and you will not be of any value. The better Nigeria we are talking about, you may not be part of it,” he cautioned.

Gaga advised youth to channel their energy into productive ventures, particularly education and agriculture, which he described as a sector with limitless opportunities.

“Agriculture is one big sector that is coming and everyone who has gone into it can never go wrong. So we are encouraging that these youths should take their lives into doing something agripreneur, and then be able to have a better life so that we can have a better Nigeria,” he added.

Also speaking, Mr. Polycarp Gakon, one of the leaders of the BB, said the group’s primary aim was to mould good character among young boys, instill discipline, and encourage them to be self-reliant through skill acquisition and empowerment programmes.

Also, the Chairman of Kudansa Battalion, Seth Abba reaffirmed BB commitment to molding good character among young boys, stressing that building values in the lives of young people will go a long way in shaping the future of the country.

According to him, the youth should be committed to whatever they do and must be guided to live with purpose.

He noted that training young people in character and service is a foundation that prepares them not only for personal success but also for meaningful contributions to national development. “When we train them well today, we secure the future of our country tomorrow,” he emphasized.

Abba further explained that beyond character development, the Brigade also equips young people with practical skills to make them self-reliant.

He said youth empowerment programmes are regularly organised to encourage innovation, entrepreneurship, and personal growth. These efforts, he added, are designed to help the youth face the challenges of the modern world with confidence and resilience.

Some of the students who participated also shared their expectations for Nigeria’s progress, Jesse Dennis said he desires to see a better country with leaders who will drive growth and development.

John Douglas urged the government to prioritize education and invest more in the sector, while Emerald Adamu called on leaders to tackle insecurity to give young people a safe environment to thrive, their voices reflected the hopes of many Nigerian youths for a brighter and more secure future.

The event, which featured a colourful march-past and parade, drew together members of the Boys’ Brigade, parents, and community leaders, who described the organisation as a platform for raising disciplined and patriotic citizens.