A workshop aimed at involving youths in agriculture, industries, public works, infrastructure and the environment commenced yesterday in Abuja for participants from the North central zone of the country.

According to the Minister of Youth Development, Senator Akinlabi Olasunkanmi who opened the workshop , the action plan was a reaction to a United Nations resolution which called for global commitment to developing and implementing strategies for decent work for young people. The minister said the workshop "underscores government's growing awareness of the nexus between unemployment, poverty, youth restiveness, conflicts, insecurity and implications on investment, economic growth and political stability."

The ministry, he said, had to scale up activities in collaboration with the office of the Special Assistant to the President since 2006 for the training of youths "from hundreds of cooperative societies in various vocational skills and youth in agriculture programmes", adding that two experts from the International Labour Organisation are on hand to assist in realising the youth empowerment plan. "Almost eight years ago, more than twenty five countries have created and commenced the implementation of the action plan. Some of these countries include India, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Singapore, Kenya, Tanzania, South Africa, Ghana, Brazil, Argentina and Jamaica amongst others," he said. Also speaking, the chairman, House of Representative Committee on Millenium Development Goals, Hajiya Saudatu Sani warned that Nigeria would be sitting on a time bomb if it refuses to engage the youth adding that deprived youth could deprive the society of peace."If we neglect them, they will neglect us ...that is why we have pockets of crisis," she said.