Experts urge youths to embrace SDGs in career choice

Experts have advised the Nigerian youths to embrace Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) while choosing their career part as part of efforts to end poverty, unemployment and ensure peace and prosperity.
 
They said that young people needed to develop themselves to the extent that they dictate the kind of future they want for themselves.Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Sustyvibes, Jennifer Uchendu, who speaking at The Edge Student Series (TESS) in Lagos, said sustainable development was not just a government thing, but something the youths must take ownership of and get involved in through publication, advocacy, social enterprises and volunteerism.

She said: “We want to get innovation into their minds on how to transform Nigeria. They should consider sustainable development when choosing a career, making products and designing things, among others.

“With the social media era, it is easier to get things done by finding their core in sustainable development. With climate change and different environmental issues, young people must think of solutions, innovative enterprises using social media to drive their message home.”
 
She added that government need to create friendly policies for young people to do business with ease in the country, adding that the process of business registration at the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) needs to be faster.

Government also needs to create avenues for credit facilities and give the young people an opportunity to develop the country through entrepreneurship.Convener and Chief Executive Officer, Swiftthink, Ayoola Jolayemi, said the summit was targeted at the youth potential at creating a sustainable economy through green economy. 
   
Jolayemi said people see green economy from the perspective of agriculture but it is beyond agriculture. “It is building lasting wealth and ensuring that a loop is created from production to consumption and back to production so that we don’t clog our drains with waste. We are building a culture around people who will become bigger, better, stronger and that only happens throuh young people. With them, anything is possible,” he stated.
   
Executive Secretary, Lagos State Employment Trust Fund (LSETF), Akin Oyebode, noted that government’s role was to distribute resources equitably and improve the quality of life of the people, insisting that jobs creation and entrepreneurship were critical drivers of increasing wealth and the citizens quality of lives.