The Lagos State Government has urged youths from the state to consider joining the military and the police.
To this end, the government, on Thursday, unveiled a dual initiative for “sensitisation on the need to improve Lagos State Indigenous youth enrolment into the Nigerian Armed Forces and Police” with “an enlightenment programme on human trafficking in persons.”
Speaking in Ikeja, the state capital, on Thursday, at the sensitisation seminar themed “Ignite: Sparkling Passion and Purpose,” the Commissioner for Special Duties and Intergovernmental Relations, Mr. Olugbenga Oyerinde, noted that statistics have revealed a decline in the enrolment of youths into the Nigerian Armed Forces and the Police.
“Recent events in the country have revealed the need to continuously engage our youths and guide them properly in making decisions, especially in the areas of career and life choice, hence the need for this seminar at this point in time.
“Statistics have revealed in the past that the enrolment of our youths to the Nigerian Armed Forces and the Police has dwindled drastically hence the need to continue to sensitise them on the need to join the Armed Force and the Police.
“Indigenous Lagos youths need to be exposed to the numerous advantages of their recruitment into the prestigious armed forces which is what this gathering aims to achieve,” he said.
The commissioner said educating “youths on the benefits of enrolment into the Armed Forces” was essential majorly “to defend the territorial integrity of our nation and other numerous packages which will be introduced to them in the course of this programme.”
“Presently, our youths are currently faced with numerous challenges which affect their daily life,” he said, stressing unemployment, inability to access soft loans for small-scale businesses, and lack of relevant skills to take up available job opportunities were critical.
