He noted that it was worrisome for a country to lose its human resources the way the country was doing, adding that the political class will in no distant time, face the consequences.
Siasia spoke on Friday in Abuja while handing over to the new president of the forum, David Osadolor.
He said, “The political actors in Nigeria will soon face the consequences of not creating sustainable opportunities for the young people, a situation that is causing them to seek greener pastures abroad, even through illegal migration.
“You can’t be losing your human resources to other countries and do not expect to feel the impact. In no distant time, the dire consequences will hit them in the face”.
He also cautioned Nigerian youths against leaving the country through illegal routes.
“Young Nigerians exiting the country, do so through legal routes. Up to 75 per cent of those who find themselves stuck up in the Mediterranean Sea are Nigerians,” he said.
He noted that in its 10 years of existence, the NYPF has spread across 15 countries, uniting over two million young people.
He added that at least 2,963 young people have been able to secure employment both at home and abroad under the platform, while 886 got access to grants to go into lucrative businesses.
While noting that the NYPF is encouraging young people doing well abroad to come back home and invest, Siasia added that one of the NYPF’s flagship programmes – the annual Niger Delta Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Summit, is strategically set out to create opportunities for young people to become self-reliant.
Speaking, the new NYPF President, Osadolor, noted that Nigeria as a developing nation cannot grow without vibrant SMEs, a sector that he described as critical to the survival of the nation.
He said he is coming on board to expand on NYPF’s sustainability goals, and building on the ” Innovation, Industry and Infrastructure” that the forum stands for.
