Nigeria’s telecom service provider and youth-friendly brand, 9mobile, has lent its voice to the global call for collaboration among generations to build an equitable, peaceful, and prosperous society while emphasizing the importance of building a society that encourages more youth representation.
The telco made the call while marking this year’s International Youth Day themed;
Inter-generational Solidarity: Creating A World for All Ages, during an Instagram live
session, hosted by Olorisupergal and graced by Ace comedian and actor, Atunyota
Alleluya Akpobome (Ali Baba), to discuss the relevance of youths in the society.
According to Akpobome, to promote inter-generational solidarity in society and
bridge the gap between the older and younger generation, the culture of shared
values must be entrenched to accommodate both the young and the old at home
and in the workplace. This would promote the convergence of understanding on the
need for mutual respect among all.
He said, “Tolerance and understanding is a way to strike a balance between age
groups. The older generation must have an open mind to today’s realities in dealing
with the differences in values and behaviour of today’s youths. In other words,
tolerance, respect and culture are the prerequisites for dealing with the culture shock
among the elderly and the younger generation.”
Noting that there is an urgent need to create platforms where youths can be
properly and productively engaged in order to harness their God-given potential for
the benefit of society, Akpobome added that youths must be well represented in the
affairs of politics, education and the economy.
Commenting on the significance of the theme, Executive Director, Regulator, and
Corporate Affairs, 9mobile, Mallam Abdulrahman Ado, noted that for a society to
experience progress in its developmental goals, the youths must be engaged and
adequately empowered to be leaders and problem solvers. He said, ” At 9mobile, we
are a youthful brand and very particular about the growth and development of
young people because they are the future we see today and as such we must
encourage and give them a sense of belonging which will invariably inspire them to
thrive and contribute to the sustainability and growth of the society.”
He called for stakeholders to be more strategic in driving initiatives that promote
inter-generational solidarity, embrace youth inclusiveness and guarantee a peaceful
and progressive world for all.
International Youth Day is designated by United Nations to highlight issues affecting
youth and draw the attention of the international community while also celebrating
the potential of youths as partners in today’s global society.
