Enugu senator, Chimaroke Nnamani, said as governor of Lagos State, Mr Tinubu embarked on series of sustainable policies towards addressing the high unemployment rate, and youth issues.
Mr Nnamani said that Mr Tinubu, on assumption of office as governor of Lagos in 1999, embarked on series of sustainable policies towards addressing the high unemployment rate, and youth issues.
According to the senator, who is a former governor of Enugu State, in his series of tweets, #Citi_ Boy series, noted that “Lagos State at the period saw a significant influx of youth looking for better livelihood.”
He said Mr Tinubu recognised that it would have been disastrous if left unattended, and therefore launched waves of reforms that re-invigorated the economy.
He said the APC candidate ensured that the vast majority of the working population, who were primarily youth, were employed.
He stated that Mr Tinubu also established the anti-drug misuse campaign initiative to inform adolescents about the risks associated with illicit drugs use, pointing out that pervasive drug abuse epidemic had successfully destroyed many young people.
Mr Nnamani said Lagos State under Mr Tinubu, distributed over one million Naira in grants to each of the registered voluntary youth organisations, as tokens of appreciation for their helpful efforts at reorientation and to encourage them to be more productive.
“Tinubu also increased the annual funding for the rehabilitation agencies to over N3 million and subsequently created youth centres to participate in educational and recreational activities,” he said.
Dr. Nnamani, who represents Enugu East Senatorial District, pointed out that the Akowonjo Open Space received a total investment of N7 million whereas the long-abandoned Igbogbo Open Space in Ikorodu was completely rehabilitated.
“Vocational training centres were developed by Tinubu’s administration in March 2003 to rehabilitate hoodlums, neighborhood boys, and the homeless who were desirous of making a turning point in their lives,” he said.
He said Mr Tinubu achieved this by economically empowering them through training in professions like carpentry, shoemaking, hair dressing and tie-and-dye.
He said the vocational centres project, which Mr Tinubu launched in November 2005, also received the international millennium award for sustaining human development.
He said youth self-employment and population education programmes were launched, explaining that the major goal was to build powerful youth organisations that launched SMEs that provided income for young people and inspired many others.
