VOX-POP: WHAT NIGERIAN YOUTHS WANT FROM PRESIDENT BUHARI

Young Nigerians speak out on the expected changes they want from the President-elect Gen. Muhammadu Buhari 

Muhammadu Buhari a native of Daura in Katsina State is the President-elect of the Federal Republic of Nigeria was born 17 December 1942. He is a retired Major General in the Nigerian Army who was the Head of State of Nigeria from 31 December 1983 to 27 August 1985, after a military coup.
He also ran unsuccessfully for the office of President in the 2003 against Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, in 2007 against late Umaru Musa Yar’adua and in the 2011 elections he contested against President Goodluck Jonathan. In December 2014, he emerged as the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress, for the 2015 elections. In the 28 March 2015 Presidential election, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari won the 2015 general election; Beating the incumbent President, Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan; first of its kind in Nigeria.
Having emerged winner of the Presidential Election, he has the mandate to lead Nigeria as the Commander in Chief of the Federal Republic, for the next four years.
However, four years seem far but I guess it’s just around the corner, a lot of Nigerians especially the young generation have been clamouring for certain changes and developments in the nation. Acada Magazine took some time out to find out what changes and development Young Nigerians want from the Gen. Muhammadu Buhari’s led federal government.
These are the comments from the people who responded and the expected changes they demand from the President once he assumes office come 29 May.

Orimisan Ayomiposi

We so much appreciate the just concluded free and fair election in Nigeria. I guess this is a sign of a new Nigeria and all I just wanted from the new government is to concentrate more on the youth, more jobs for graduate, and give them chances to hold post in the society. They should fix the roads and please revive our economy, so we will be more relevant when we go to other countries. 

Jimoh Oluwasemilore Yetunde, Student, Benin

I am a final year student; I want a new Nigeria free of corruption. I know that is inevitable, but we can reduce it. The government needs to make everybody even by paying the people in the House of Assembly including senators the same amount a normal civil servant is being paid, so they won’t make it a do or die affair to get elected. If it’s not about the money, we will have only good people that are ready to work and sacrifice competing for the positions.

Osho Oluwafemi Emmanuel

All I want from the president is a Nigeria that will stop me from going abroad. A Nigeria with organisation and well structured set out plans. A Nigeria where electricity is stable and the roads are good. A Nigeria where the law enforcement agencies do not need to take bribe. A Nigeria where crime offenders can be blame for laziness since the government has everything well put in place. 

Adedun, Lagos

I want government to fix Electricity Distribution and Security, these are my top priorities. These two are very necessary and essential.

KOLAWOLE K-SLOW,Abuja, Fresh Graduate

A lot of youths worked towards General Buhari coming out victorious in the election. That being said, the big question is what do I expect from the General when he eventually takes office? The first thing for me is, I want him to work on the unemployment rate in this country. I'm tired of folks and those in government clamoring about wanting youths to be self enterprising and all. That's not a bad thing in itself but we all cannot be self enterprising. The civil service and other government bodies should be fine tuned to embrace the great number of unemployed youth. Then I would also want to see the General hit the ground running as regards the power sector, because Power is Life. Then lastly, but not the least on my list, it wouldn't be a bad idea if he can make corruption become a thing of the past but that might be a hard thing for him to do. Wish him the best though. 

Akogu Blessing, Lagos, Youth Corper, 24

All I want is Just for him to continue paying our ‘allowee’ for 1 year as he promised and create job opportunities.

Afolake Olagunju, Lagos, Entrepreneur, 24

 There are many things that I want from the incoming president, but the most important to me and many other Nigerians, especially the growing entrepreneurs and business owners is a stable power supply. This is because, with a good supply of power, entrepreneurs get to be more productive and achieve more as they spend less on fuel, resulting into better profit margin for them, and an overall betterment of the economy.

I believe once this is sorted, other things would gradually fall into place. If Buhari is able to this successfully, then he has won the hearts of many Nigerians.

Chidozie Chukwu, Lagos, Student, 23

 He should work on a stable power supply to enable industrial development in the country. Also, reduction in prices of petroleum products.

Moshood Fattah, Lagos, Performing Artist,  24

 I would very much like for the government to proliferate tertiary institutions to accommodate the wealth of potential that the Nigerian youth are blessed with. Not everybody is cut out for office jobs, football or the arts. More emphasis should be placed on "practical" Colleges of Science and Technology and grants should be made available to push the resultant "prototypes" into the market. We need to start creating our own phones, laptops and satellites. Not only will it attract more "gifted" kids to school and make Nigeria a force to reckon with in the fast growing world of ever evolving technology, the long term result will be a country that makes a huge load of foreign exchange from the eventual exportation of these products.

Poto Hope, Ekiti, Youth Corper, 26

 I really want him to work on Job creations for the youths and also organize Youth Empowerment / Acquisition programmes so that the youths will not have to depend solely on the government to survive. 

Anitiemfon Messi, Nigerian Student in Russia
Mr. President should create industries, which will create employment in the long run.
He should address security issue, this will also make even Nigerians abroad feel comfortable to come back home.

Nelson NseAbasi, Uyo, Student-Journalist
His experience as a General can help tackle Nigeria's security problems. For business and job creation; there's no good road/rail network between the north and the south. Nigerian President should help link them up, and open up sea ports in the South-South, to enhance easy exportation of made in Nigeria goods, breaking the Lagos monopoly. 

Ken Adejumoh, PR Practictioner.

The immediate change I expect to see from the newly elected President is to improve the power sector which will help SMEs and also he should implement his promises of empowering youth corps members as stated in his campaign. 

Emmanuel Osodi, Photo Journalist.

All I want him to do is to fix the issue of electricity.

Francisca Gomez, Student

There should be reform of the Nigerian university system, so that Nigerians can stop fleeing to Ghana. There should also be job creation, too many jobless youths and more are graduating every year. Finally, complete elimination of Boko Haram.

Olarenwaju Abioro, Self Employed

Nigeria has not done anything for Nigeria youth. Nigerians are just wasting their resources (most Nigeria youth are running to another country work and pay their taxes to another country to develop. He should also do something about old people that are not working. I was travelling out of the country recently and I noticed all the immigration officers are reading newspapers and they are not doing their jobs while we have youth that are looking for jobs. We are looking forward to see what they got for us.

Osadolor Omoregie, Youth corps member.

Well... for one, I expect him to try and tackle the issue of corruption (as much as possible) from the grass-roots. Also he should focus more on roads and electricity. (As these two are very vital and essential to the development of a country)... lots of things would almost automatically fall into places if he can do this in 4years... Then I will be glad to put down my vote for him again if he decides to run for a second term.

Moses Faleke, Entrepreneur/Afro Morgan Concepts

The president-elect on assuming office should as a matter of urgency work on Unemployment eradication.

Olushina Egunjobi

Major thing is electricity. He should also improve the NYSC scheme by making graduate self-employed. Housing scheme should be cheaper for d masses. Also he needs to tackle the security threats facing the nation.