The National President of Methodist Church Nigeria Youth Fellowship, Amb Micheal Ezeh, has called on the federal government to implement concrete macroeconomic policies to tackle youth unemployment, stem brain drain, and address widespread insecurity, warning that Nigeria’s structural challenges are hitting young people the hardest.
Speaking at the National Presidents’ Summit at Wesley Cathedral, 39 Beecroft, Calabar, Cross River State, over the weekend, the youth leader stressed that the church cannot remain insulated in its sanctuaries while ignoring the hardships faced on the streets.
“The current state of our nation hits the youth hardest. We are the demographic carrying the heaviest burdens of Nigeria’s current structural transformations,” the president said.
Ezeh urged the government to move beyond promises and create measurable policies that generate real jobs for graduates.
While acknowledging the desire for better opportunities abroad, the president described the exodus of skilled young minds as a “gaping wound” in the nation’s development.
He called on the government to improve working conditions and create an enabling environment for youth to thrive at home, while encouraging young Nigerians to harness the country’s untapped potential through local innovation and resilience.
Noting the dual nature of the digital age, the fellowship emphasised opportunities in remote work and entrepreneurship, but warned of the risks of misinformation, cybercrime, and moral decay. Christian youths were encouraged to promote digital literacy and use technology for societal good, development, and the spread of the gospel, rather than deceit or quick riches.
Ezeh expressed heartbreak over the volatility in schools, places of worship, highways, and communities due to banditry, kidnapping, and insurgency.
The president stressed practical vigilance, stating, “Be cautious in your movements, guard your associations, and work closely with local security agencies to protect your communities.”
The fellowship noted that places of worship and learning have become unsafe due to the prevailing insecurity.
“Even in the midst of chaos, the Lord still knows and will protect His own,” the president said, while urging caution and collaboration with security agencies to report suspicious activities.
Despite the challenges, the youth leader urged against despair.
“Nigeria’s redemption will not come from political manoeuvring; it will be driven by the resilience, creativity, and prayers of a righteous youth demographic that refuses to bow to corruption.”
(The Whistler)
