Alh. Atiku Abubakar, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate, said on Thursday that if elected president of Nigeria in the 2023 general elections, he would set aside $10 billion to combat youth unemployment.
Atiku made the announcement in Ilorin, Kwara State's capital, at the start of the PDP North-Central campaign rally, which was held at the Metropolitan Square in Ilorin.
The money, according to the former vice president, will be used to assist Nigerian youths in establishing micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs).
"I want to assure you that the widespread youth unemployment in the country is not limited to Kwara state or the North-Central zone." The majority of you here are under the age of 30, and the majority of you have no jobs or businesses. We will make sure that in our programme, I’ve promised that I’ll set aside $10billion to make sure that youth unemployment are catered for in micro, small and medium enterprises to empower you and to make sure that you are gainfully employed so that you have a decent living.
“We’re not here to tell you lies. We’re your parents. We want you to be like what we are. We will bail you out. We will bring you up. We will make sure you attain your objectives, whatever is your lofty ambition. That’s why we are here. Don’t vote for APC again. Vote for all candidates of the PDP come 2023.
“We also promise to restore security all over the country. When they came, they said they would tackle insecurity in six months. But what do we see? We now see insecurity all over the country. It’s a total failure by the APC in all its ramifications,” Atiku said.
The presidential hopeful urged Kwarans to elect all PDP candidates during the 2023 general elections.
Atiku, who said that the party had on Wednesday inaugurated Council of Women for PDP, added that it was the first in the history of the leading opposition party.
He commended the Kwara people for the large turnout and thanked them for the support and warm reception accorded his campaign team.