Buhari commends Facebook co-founder for inspiring Nigerian youths

President Muhammadu Buhari has commended the Chief Executive Officer and Co-founder of social networking website, Facebook, Mark Elliot Zuckerberg for sharing his wealth of knowledge with Nigerian youths, and inspiring them on the path of entrepreneurship.

The President who received him in Abuja today said the meetings he held with Nigerian youths since his arrival were most timely as the country was already exploring opportunities to spur development through entrepreneurship.

In a statement issued by Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Mr. Femi Adesina quoted President Buhari to have said: “Nigeria has always been identified as a country with great potentials for growth, especially with our youthful population, but now we are moving beyond the potentials to reality.

“I am impressed by your simplicity in sharing your knowledge and wealth with those with less income”.

“In our culture, we are not used to seeing successful people appear like you. We are not used to seeing successful people jogging and sweating on the streets.

“We are more used to seeing successful people in air-conditioned places. We are happy you are well-off and simple enough to always share,’’ he added.

Zuckerberg said in his remarks that he was impressed by the interest, energy and entrepreneurial spirit displayed by young Nigerians in all the ICT camps that he had visited.

“I was highly impressed by the talent of the youths in the Co-creation Hub in Yaba. I was blown away by their talent and the level of energy that I saw,’’ he said.

Zuckerberg said he was in the country to promote the penetration of, “fast and cheap” internet connectivity, Express-wifi, that would help people create online businesses and reduce poverty.