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Tag: David Young

  • US backs Edo State’s anti-human trafficking model

    The United States Government has praised the Edo State Government’s anti-human trafficking model.

    U.S.  Chargé d’ affairs David Young pledged the U.S. Mission’s commitment to expanding the scope of its collaboration with states such as Edo, which serve as a source or transit point for human trafficking.

    Young spoke Tuesday during a visit to the state, with a view to understanding the socio-economic factors that perpetuate trafficking in persons in the state and efforts towards eradicating it.

    At a courtesy call on Edo State Deputy Governor Philip Shuaibu at the Government House in Benin City, the envoy said: “We are pleased with the important progress that has been made to combat trafficking in persons in Edo State, through the Three Ps: Prevention, Protection and Prosecution of those individuals involved in human trafficking.

    Read also: Edo distributes relief materials to flood victims in 5 LGAs

    “This is one of the issues the U.S. government is focused on, as it is a horrific crime and we recognize its long-term effects on people who are trafficked to other countries.”

    He also visited the palace of the Oba of Benin, where he had an audience with Oba Ewuare II.

    Chargé Young emphasised the pivotal role of traditional institutions in eliminating the scourge of human smuggling.

    “We note that the Benin monarchy has taken the lead in statewide efforts to prevent young people from being trafficked.

    “Survivors with whom we have interacted confirm that the King’s nullification last year of all oaths sworn by trafficking victims had a remarkable impact, by neutralizing the psychological hold of the trafficking syndicates and encouraging survivors to return home.

    “This, in addition to the laudable efforts of the Oba Ewuare II Foundation, continues to bring freedom to many,” the envoy noted.

    Chargé d’ affaires Young also met trafficking survivors at Idia Renaissance Center, a non-government organization focused on ending human trafficking in Edo State.

    He also participated in a round-table discussion on trafficking and illegal migration with representatives of the Edo State Task Force Against Human Trafficking.

     

  • US applauds Obaseki’s economic reforms, fight against human trafficking

     …As Shaibu assures of state’s resolve to sustain initiatives

    The Charge d’ Affairs and Deputy Chief of Missions United States (US) Embassy in Abuja, David Young, has applauded the Edo State Government’s unrelenting and well-articulated efforts in creating jobs for youths as well as initiatives to curb human trafficking and illegal migration in the state.

    Young, who made the submission during a courtesy visit to the Government House, in Benin City, Edo State, commended the state government’s efforts to create jobs and opportunities for youths in the state, noting, “We are here to talk about your plans to revitalize the economy and create jobs and opportunities for young people.”

    The US diplomat said the state government through the Edo State Taskforce Against Human Trafficking (ETAHT) is working tirelessly to combat trafficking in persons, applauding “the excellent effort and steps taken in Edo by the inter-agency taskforce to arrest the menace. It is commendable that the state government signed the anti-human trafficking law and set up the Edo State Taskforce Against Human Trafficking. We salute the Taskforce. We also commend the anti-trafficking law which moves to codify prosecution for those involved in trafficking in persons.”

    He added that the delegation is in the state to explore areas in which it can provide support to the government to prevent young people from falling victims of human traffickers.

    READ ALSO: Obaseki sets world-class target for Edo varsity

    Young also praised the collaboration between the state government and the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), stating: “We commend the information sharing and coordination on prosecution with NAPTIP in the fight against trafficking in persons which are in line with the three P’s strategy of Prevention, Protection and Prosecution, to move against trafficking, a horrific crime with adverse effect on young people.”

    On his part, the Acting Governor, Rt. Hon. Comrade Philip Shaibu, noted that the state government realised that “the only way we to move the state forward is to keep the youth engage.”

    Shaibu blamed human trafficking on bad governance in the past which caused the people to lose hope in the country, noting that the state government is changing the narrative with its economic reforms and skills development programmes, such as

    He said EdoJobs provides job opportunities for youths through capacity building, equipping them with in-demand employability skills for gainful employment as well as empowerment programmes and training to make them successful entrepreneurs.

    Shaibu added that youths are engaged in agricultural activities, and also in the Public Works Volunteers (PUWOV) scheme to help in intelligence gathering for security agencies in the state.

    Front row: Acting Governor, Edo State, Rt. Hon. Comrade Philip Shaibu (2nd right); Charge d’ Affairs and Deputy Chief of Missions United States (US) Embassy in Abuja, David Young (2nd right); Commissioner for Justice and Attorney General of Edo State, Prof. Yinka Omorogbe (left); Head of Service, Mr. Isaac Ehiozuwa, during a courtesy visit by the US Deputy Chief of Mission, to the Government House, in Benin City, Edo State.

  • Yari calls for more U.S support on security challenge

    Gov. Abdulaziz Yari of Zamfara has called for more United States support to contain security challenges in the country.
    Yari made the appeal while receiving the Acting U.S., Ambassador to Nigeria Mr David Young, who paid him a courtesy visit at the Government House in Gusau.
    Alhaji Ibrahim Dosara, the Special Adviser to the governor on Media and Public Enlightenment disclosed this in a statement on Wednesday in Gusau.
    Yari told the ambassador that the state has been facing security challenges including banditry, kidnapping, cattle rustling and other forms of criminality for over eight years.
    He said the problem had nothing to do with ethnicity and religion, but purely a criminal activity.

    Read Also: Buhari, Yari, Badaru, Bagudu meet in Aso Rock

    Yari lamented that the problem had persisted in spite of his administration’s numerous support to security agencies through logistics and information.He also appreciated the U.S support to Nigeria on security and called for more support in form of training and modern equipment.
    Earlier, Young said he was in the state to condole with the government and people on the incessant killings of innocent people.
    He said the U.S government had been partnering with Nigeria in areas of security, education and economy, among others.
    Young said the visit was also aimed at getting a clear picture of the security challenge confronting the state.

  • Nigerians should love themselves – US Envoy

    Nigerians should love themselves – US Envoy

    The Charge d’ Affairs of the United States Mission in Nigeria, Mr David Young, on Sunday enjoined Nigerians to shun political, religious and ethnic sentiments, and to always love themselves.

    Young, who is also an ordained Pastor, made the appeal in a sermon entitled “Where is Nigeria as a Nation Today and Where Do You Want to be?,’’ in Lagos.

    The Envoy said in a sermon at the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Olive Tree Parish, Banana Island, Lagos, that it was imperative for Nigerians to embrace agape love.

    “Whether you are Yoruba, Ibo, Fulani or Hausa, Muslim or Christian, Nigerians should love themselves and their neighbours.

    “We must understand the kind of love that Jesus wants us to have for ourselves and for God. Agape love is a special love. This is the kind
    of love that would make Nigerians truly love themselves and even their enemies.

    “This is really the type of love that Nigerians need today. This kind of love is also needed in America,’’ he said.

    Young said that it was important for Nigerians to realise that God sent Jesus to demonstrate and teach humanity agape love.

    The Charge d’ Affairs also urged Nigerians to learn to begin to live according to Biblical Scriptures on the need for them to always love
    themselves and their neighbours.

    Young said that it was imperative for Nigerians to also known that Jesus did not encourage or support actions and attitudes that would
    divide people and communities.

    “You should love yourselves because love came from God to us all. We must all focus on how to live on agape love.

    “We need to work for justice and respect for all people around us, irrespective of their tribe, religion and lifestyle.

    “We need to symbolically wrap everything we do or engage in, with the love of God. We need to know that Jesus is always walking with us, but we are not seeing him.

    “We need to allow Jesus walk the roads of our lives with us always. We need to always show hospitality to our neighbours, so that we can see Jesus,’’ he added.

  • U.S pledges support for FG’s anti-graft campaign

    U.S pledges support for FG’s anti-graft campaign

    The United States on Wednesday reiterated its commitment to the Federal Government’s anti-corruption drive, saying it would continue to offer material and intelligence supports to ensure Nigeria is rid of graft.

    The U.S. Charge d’Affaires, Mr. David Young, said the cost of corruption to the economy should not be measured by figures of stolen assets, but its effects on hardworking citizens.

    The diplomat said America would continue to support open partnership with agencies of government and civil society organisations to end corruption in Nigeria, adding that all Nigeria’s stolen assets stashed in the U.S would be recovered and returned to the country.

    Young spoke at the launch of Report Yourself, a web-based anti-corruption platform to promote citizen engagement in the fight against corruption.

    The event was organised by BudgIT in collaboration with the U.S Mission to Nigeria and Religious Leader Anti-corruption Committee (RLAC), a non-governmental organisation (NGO).

    The web-based platform was developed by BudgIT and funded by the U.S Department of State’s Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement.

    Young said the platform was created with the aim to empower citizens to instantaneously report corruption and bribery in public and private sectors as it occurs.

    He said: “We hope Report Yourself platform starts a new movement in citizen engagement in Nigerian government’s efforts to end corruption. We do hope every Nigerian citizen who is affected by corruption would feel empowered to share their experiences. The tide will turn against the culture of corruption when Nigerians recognise that they must fight as one to stamp out this scourge that has hampered development and stifled prosperity.”

    “Through the State Department’s Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement, we are working to increase the capacity of Nigerian law enforcement agencies and the justice sector.”

    The Head of Public Complaint Rapid Response Unit (PCRRU) of the Nigeria Police Force, Abayomi Shogunle, an Assistant Commissioner of Police, pledged the police’s support for the platform, saying it would complement the PCRRU’s effort to end indiscipline in the force.

    Sogunle urged members of the public to engage the platform and report corrupt cases around them.

  • U.S. committed to ending malaria in Nigeria – Envoy

    U.S. committed to ending malaria in Nigeria – Envoy

    The Deputy Head of Mission, U.S. Embassy, David Young, on Monday said that his country was committed to ending the scourge of malaria in Nigeria.

    Young, who stated this in Abuja at the commemoration of 2017 World Malaria Day organised by the U.S. Embassy, said prevention and control remained a major U.S. foreign assistance objective.

    “The U.S. Government, through Presidential Malaria Initiative (PMI) and the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) is committed to raising awareness about the proper prevention, diagnosis and treatment of this disease,” he said.

    According to him, the U.S. Government supports local partners to design and implement programmes to improve public and private sector adherence to diagnosis and treatment guidelines.

    He disclosed that the U.S. invested over 420 million dollars in the fight against malaria in Nigeria since 2010, and 75 million dollars in 2016 alone.

    He said that the U.S PMI strategy goal was to work with PMI-supported countries and partners to further reduce malaria deaths and substantially decrease malaria morbidity towards the long-term goal of elimination.

    PMI, Young said, delivered nearly 7.5 million Rapid Diagnostic Tests and 12 million Artemisinin-based Combination Therapy (ACT) treatment doses in support to 3,000 health facilities across 11 states in Nigeria.

    To end malaria for good, Young called on Nigerians to commit to sleeping in a treated bed net every night and remember that not every fever is malaria.

    He stressed the need to demand a “test before treatment”, before beginning a full regimen of ACT.

    According to him, ending malaria will prevent more than 80 million illnesses and more than 300,000 related deaths from malaria annually.

    “Ending malaria will increase school attendance, boost workers’ productivity and significantly lower out-of-pocket cost for treatment.

    “This is why malaria prevention and control remain a major U.S. foreign assistance objective.

    “Each year in Nigeria, more than 80 million people fall ill and 300,000 die from malaria,” he said.

    According to him, early and accurate diagnosis is essential for rapid and effective disease management and surveillance.

    He said that Malaria diagnosis was vital as misdiagnosis allows disease progression from uncomplicated to severe forms, resulting in significant morbidity and mortality.

    Young said that Nigeria had in 2015 adopted the T3 (test, treat and track) strategy for malaria case management.

    He said that the strategy helped to improve overall management of patients with febrile illnesses and reduced the emergence and spread of drug resistance to anti-malarial medications.

  • Niger Delta crisis: U.S, Dickson insist on dialogue

    Niger Delta crisis: U.S, Dickson insist on dialogue

    The United States Government and Bayelsa State Governor, Seriake Dickson, on Wednesday insisted that the Federal Government should use dialogue, not military might, to resolve the crisis in the Niger Delta region.

    They said honest and sincere talks involving all the stakeholders in the region would have far-reaching impact on peace, security and stability of the country.

    A three-man team of senior U.S officials led by the Deputy Chief of Mission, Mr. David Young, spoke in Yenagoa, when they paid a courtesy visit to Dickson as part of their ongoing fact-finding tour of the Niger Delta.

    Other members of the team were Consul-General, John Bray and Chief of Political and Economic Section, Tom Hines.

    Addressing Dickson, Young said: “The United States Government feels very strongly that all stakeholders should be engaged in dialogue as part of step to arrive at equitable and fair solution for all involved.”

    He observed that the major challenge facing Nigeria was to translate the oil wells into meaningful development to impact positively on the lives of the citizens.

    He said the country should strive to ensure an end to violence and establish conditions and mechanisms for lasting change and economic opportunities for the people.

    He said the mission constantly engaged all stakeholders such as governors, civil society group, legislators and non-governmental organisations to promote transparency and fiscal responsibility.

    According to him, America would continue to provide necessary assistance on matters of agriculture, health, education, diplomacy and good governance.

    He said: “We believe that the major challenge to Nigeria is to translate the region’s oil wells into improvement in the lives of every citizen.

    “We encourage Nigeria to work for goals to end violence and to establish conditions and mechanisms for a lasting change over time and provide economic opportunities for people.”

    On his part, Dickson commended the U.S for her encouragement and continued support for Nigeria and the Niger Delta.