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CHIEF of Staff to President Muhammadu Buhari, Prof. Ibrahim Gambari, says Nigeria must harness its youth population to drive national transformation and make impact on the global stage.
Gambari made call while delivering the 20th convocation lecture of the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA), on Tuesday in Kaduna.
The lecture titled, ‘National Security, Defence and Diplomacy in an Evolving World Order’, was part of events for the passing out of Cadets of 69 Regular Course and post graduate students of the NDA.
Gambari said conventional indicators of potential power and influence in international relations include the population endowment of countries.
He added that Nigeria, by 2050, would emerge as the third or fourth most populous country in the world after India and China.
Gambari, therefore, said it was imperative for Nigeria to convert its endowment of youthful population into real power and influence.
He said this should be done through concious policies and political efforts.
The Chief of Staff noted that the international system has been recording changes and becoming mutually reinforcing, with demography playing a huge part.
Gambari said while some parts of the world have ageing population, Africa, including Nigeria have huge population of young people, which should be positively used to make impact in all sectors.
He added that the population growth in Nigeria remained relatively high, with the youth comprised of as much as 60 per cent of the total population.
Gambari said a major part of the population of Nigerians are under 35 years of age.
The former Nigerian Envoy to the United Nations, also advocated for a fully reformed and revamped multilateral system, complete with permanent seats for Africa in the Security Council.
According to him, that would constitute an important umbrella for protecting national interest and addressing many challenges which boarders predominantly on the youthful population.
Earlier, Commandant of the NDA, Maj.-Gen. Ibrahim Yusuf, said that the cadets would pass out on Oct. 6, with President Muhammadu Buhari expected to be the Reviewing Officer.
He said the convocation lecture marks the commencement of activities lined up for the passing out parade.(NAN)
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Tags: Gen. Ibrahim Yusuf Muhammadu Buhari Prof. Ibrahim Gambari
