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Nigerians were shocked on Wednesday when President Muhammadu Buhari unbelievably told the world that Nigerian youths are lazy and want everything free.
Buhari who was speaking at the Commonwealth Business Forum in Westminster, said many Nigerian youths just want to sit down and do nothing, because Nigeria is an oil-rich nation.
His words: “About the economy, we have a very young population, our population is estimated conservatively to be 180 million. This is a very conservative one,” Buhari said.
“More than 60 percent of the population is below 30, a lot of them haven’t been to school and they are claiming that Nigeria is an oil producing country, therefore, they should sit and do nothing, and get housing, healthcare, education for free.”
Many Nigerians including politicians reacted to the statement, describing it as unfortunate. Young Nigerians are also using the hashtag, #LazyNigerianYouths, to reject the preisdent’s statement
Below are some reactions.
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar
I will never refer to Nigeria’s youth as people who sit and do nothing. They are hardworking. I should know, I have thousands of youths working for me all over the country who have been the backbone to our success.
I’ve always said oil is not Nigeria’s greatest asset. Our greatest asset is our youth who created Nollywood out of nothing and an entertainment industry that is second to none in Africa.
Our youth are charting new frontiers; creating a huge tech industry on their own! Their entrepreneurial spirit, work ethic, and creative abilities are things of pride and should be applauded, encouraged and nurtured.
Governor Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti State
Nigerian youths are hardworking, intelligent and enterprising. Their future was mortgaged by past leaders like President Buhari, who had everything at their beck and call as youths. I imagine the youths of today having half of the opportunities available in the 50s and 60s…
Senator Ben Murray-Bruce
Whoever says Nigerian youths are lazy should just buy a mirror and he or she will see the real definition of laziness! I have over 1000 Nigerian youths in my employ and not one of them is lazy.
Reno Omokri, former presidential aide
How can you in one breath say that your country’s youth are lazy and don’t want to work and in the next you appeal to foreign investors to come and invest in Nigeria? Someone please explain to Buhari that a father who calls his daughter a prostitute should not expect suitors!
Nigerian youths created Nollywood from scratch without government help. 77% of Black doctors in America are Nigerians, mostly youths who were frustrated out of Nigeria due to inept leadership of the likes of Buhari. In his life, can Buhari name one thing he has run successfully?
Japhet Omojuwa
President Buhari GOOFED on his statements on Nigerian Youths in London. It is actually impossible for one to believe a president would say that about his own citizens, especially without isolating those who work hard and are helping the country shine across different disciplines.