By Amidu Arije
German Consul-General, Dr. Stefam Traumann, has urged the Nigerian government to encourage and allow youth initiatives to take the centre stage in its drive towards economic development.
The Consul-General, who was a special guest at the Rotary Friendship Night and launch of Governor’s magazine, in Lagos, said Nigerian youths were very energetic and full of ideas which if allowed to take be utilised would have a long way in better the lots of the nation’s economy.
Traumann admitted that Nigeria’s GDP has a long way to go, but was optimistic that with the large number of youths Nigeria is endowed with, the GDP can still grow rapidly soon.
“There is a long way to go, of course, but in recent times, I met many young Nigerians very energetic with lots of ideas and they really have to really take their own destinies in their own hands and think together with the possibility of the Nigerian government, companies and other entities having to give them enough room to work and develop themselves and achieve their goals.
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“ I am optimistic that I can be done and it has to be done because we are looking in the future and the youths are our destiny.
I am optimistic that much more progress is made and in this way, the economy will be improved upon,” he said.
Speaking on the business relationship between Nigeria and Germany, Traumann said it has come a long way, saying Germans have hundreds on companies in Nigeria and creating jobs and doing business progressively.
He continued, “We have as good long standing business relationship between Nigeria and Germany.
“Firstly, we have hundreds of Germans companies in Nigeria doing business and creating jobs with huge investments with worry impact to grow of course there are some logistics to be met, but I am optimistic that in the years ahead we will get it right with growing,” he said.
He added that as part of relationship existing between the countries was training and retraining of Nigerian youths by these German companies for them to better their future.
“Special focus on training and retraining of youth of young people because most of the companies not Germans alone need a well trained workers,” he said.
On life expectancy in Nigeria, the German Consul-General said the reason for short of life expectancy in Nigeria was as a result of poor water system and lack of good food.
“It is a long process, Nigeria has to go, but you have to see where it comes from, quality of life begins not by medical equipment or medicine, it begins with pure water and availability of good food,” he said.
