A prominent Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain, Bode George, has revealed that his own children are struggling to secure employment in Nigeria due to the stigma attached to his name.
Speaking on Nigeria Info FM 99.3, the former Deputy National Chairman of the PDP highlighted the widespread frustration among Nigerians, saying the country is plagued with hunger and anger.
“Today in Nigeria, everywhere there is hunger and anger,” George said.
Graduates Struggling for Opportunities
George expressed deep concern over the bleak prospects facing Nigerian youth. He noted that many graduates are “floating” without hope, while non-graduates are largely idle.
“Graduates are floating, no future, no hope; non-graduates are doing nothing,” he lamented.
Call for Special Youth Empowerment Fund
The PDP chieftain called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to establish a special fund aimed at empowering young Nigerians.
He suggested micro-credit schemes to support graduates who wish to start businesses and help unskilled youths acquire employable skills.
“I suggested that Mr. President should set up a special fund to ensure that those guys who didn’t train in any skill can be empowered. Then micro-credit for young graduates who want to do one business or the other,” George said.
Criticism of First Lady’s National Library Initiative
Bode George also took a swipe at the First Lady’s plan to build a national library, suggesting that funds could be sourced more effectively from wealthy donors rather than public contributions.
“Recently, the First Lady announced that she was going to build a national library and she needed contributions. That fund should have been by the President asking these people in the banks, those who donated N20 billion in two days, to give that money, which will be public money, and process it through good management,” he remarked.
Personal Struggles Linked to His Name
George revealed that his children, despite having graduated years ago, are facing challenges in securing jobs, largely due to the negative perception surrounding his name.
“The younger generation in this country, including my own children who graduated a long time ago, have returned and tried to get a job, but they can’t get a job because their name is Bode George,” he said.
Focus on Youth as a National Priority
Throughout the interview, George stressed that the plight of ordinary Nigerians and the youth should be the main focus of government attention.
He painted a picture of a nation where hunger and frustration are widespread and called for immediate actions to address youth unemployment.