By Mustapha Salisu
A prominent APC youth mobiliser, Dr. Aslam Aliyu has urged youths in Northern Nigeria to shun division, tribalism and religious hatred, calling on them to take active roles in politics and participate in decision-making at all levels.
Dr. Aslam made the call on Tuesday during the Northwest Youths and Students Renewed Hope for Tinubu Town Hall Meeting in Kano, where he said the future of Northern youths could not be built on anger or political confrontation.
She said Northern Nigeria needed job creation, infrastructure, investment, security and industries, stressing that young people must prepare themselves to provide the leadership required to address the region’s challenges.
The speaker also urged youths to participate actively in politics from the polling unit and ward levels to local, state and national politics, saying they should move beyond attending political rallies to developing the intellectual capacity to influence policies.
On national unity, Dr. Aslam said Nigeria was greater than individual politicians, political parties and regional interests, urging citizens to reject attempts to turn the country’s diversity into a permanent source of conflict.
She said political leaders should be assessed based on their ideas, character, capacity and performance rather than their ethnic or regional backgrounds, stressing the need to strengthen understanding between the North and South.
Dr. Aslam also charged student leaders to understand the electoral process, study political parties and their policies, ask questions and engage politicians on their responsibilities.
She urged the students to reject violence, political thuggery, tribalism, hatred and religious campaigning, while warning them against exchanging their future for temporary political gifts.
On education, Dr. Aslam described the Nigerian Education Loan Fund, NELFUND, as an important intervention in expanding access to tertiary education, particularly for students from families facing financial difficulties.
She said investment in education should be viewed as investment in human capital, giving young Nigerians opportunities to become professionals in fields including medicine, engineering, law, teaching, entrepreneurship and technology.
Dr. Aslam also spoke on the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, saying the administration’s focus on economic reforms, education, infrastructure, transportation and human capital development should translate into tangible opportunities for ordinary Nigerians.
She urged young Nigerians to remain constructive participants in the democratic process, saying the future belonged to those prepared to take part in building a stronger, more prosperous and united Nigeria.