We've Been Inspired By Our Own Youths - Theresa May Speaks After Buhari's 'Lazy Nigerian Youths' Comment

Theresa May

Few hours after Nigerian President, Muhammadu Buhari said that youths in his country did not go to school and want everything free, British Prime Minister has said their own young people inspire them.

 

While speaking at the first meeting of Commonwealth heads of government at Queen Elizabeth’s home in Windsor, United Kingdom, the British Prime Minister, Theresa May says the young people of the Commonwealth, leading the youth forum and participating in other activities, have inspired the heads of government.

 

According to TheCable, she said; “Good morning everyone and welcome to Windsor castle. I think in the best Commonwealth tradition, in the intimacy and privacy of our retreat today.

“First of all, I like to thank Her Majesty, the Queen for her generous invitation into her home, the first time I think the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting has been held here in the remarkable history of this building.

“I am also struck by the number of heads of government we have assembled here today. That is a powerful demonstration of our commitment to revitalise the Commonwealth and to tap into its vast potential.

“I think I speak for everyone in the room when I say we have all been inspired by what we’ve seen and heard, particularly from our young people.”

 

May went on to say the onus now lies on the heads of government to build on what was presented by the discussions from the women, business, people and youth forums.

 

“Yesterday, we spoke about the shared challenges as we strive to build a more sustainable, a more prosperous, a more secure and a fairer Commonwealth.

“And today is a chance to build on that, to talk frankly, and openly with the tradition of the Commonwealth Heads of Government retreat.”

 

The UK Prime Minister was speaking just few hours after President Muhammadu Buhari told a panel discussion at the Commonwealth business forum in Westminster, London, that youths in Nigeria who did not go to school were dependent on revenue from oil to survive.

 

He said the youths, who make up 60 percent of the population, were waiting to get social amenities free without doing anything.

 

"And then the economy. We have a very young population and our population is estimated conservatively to be 180 million. The 60 percent of the population is below the age of 30. A lot of them have not been to school and they are claiming that Nigeria has been an oil producing country and therefore they should sit and do nothing and get housing, healthcare and education free."

When News Breaks Out, We Break In. (The 2014 Bloggies Finalist)