The lack of economic prospects has driven our youth toward illicit activities, such as cultivating marijuana in remote areas as a source of income.

So the Ministry of Youth and Sports will seek ways to ensure that more unemployed youths find jobs to steer away from involvement in illegal activities.

This was part of Jese Saukuru’s ministerial statement in parliament yesterday.

“The lack of economic opportunities has resulted in extreme poverty within our communities,” said the Minister for Youth and Sports.

“It is the scarcity of economic opportunities that has also led many youths to idle around our urban centers and live on the streets.”

Minister for Youth and Sports Jese Saukuru. Photo: Ronald Kumar

Mr Saukuru hailed a youth career fair held this year a success.

“As of this week, 600 youths are undergoing job training before full employment. We anticipate an increase in recruitment numbers for those young people who participated in the career fair,” he said.

“For the success of our youth development efforts, we must establish partnerships with local and international organisations as well as community stakeholders to create a broader and more inclusive platform for youth engagement.”

Mr Saukuru encouraged young people to contribute their innovative ideas and solutions to achieve these goals, fostering a sense of ownership and responsibility.

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