The Nation Newspaper

Tag: youth

  • Youths with a vision

    Youths with a vision

    The biblical message that “young men will see visions” was exhibited when over 200 youths converged on the multipurpose hall of the Government Secondary School (GSS) in Mararaba, Nasarawa State, to mark this year’s International Youth Day.

    The event was organised by a non-governmental organisation (NGO), Youth Initiative for Sustainable Human Development in Africa (YiSHDA), as part of efforts to mentor the youth.

    The one-day summit featured discussions on human capacity development, leadership skills, community development and societal change and governance.

    Students residing in Nyanya, Mararaba, New Karu, One Man Village and Masaka areas of the state attended the event with the theme: Equipping and empowerment for global impact.

    Participants engaged in various interactive sessions. The first facilitator, Mrs. Christiana Ibrahim, a lawyer, spoke on the theme.

    She noted that before any positive impact could be made, the young must judiciously take steps to chart progressive courses in life. She urged the participants to always read books to acquire knowledge.

    Kingsley Sunday, another speaker, spoke on Discovering your potential. He stated several reasons people live in misery and die without fulfilling their dreams, saying lack of knowledge and capabilities and absence of resources within the reach of man could make them live unfulfilled life.

    Kingsley said until mundane issues of life were relegated and replaced with hard work and farsightedness, people’s existence would be purposeless.

    Fidelis Amos, a motivational speaker, who discussed Building a positive self-image, charged the youths on entrepreneurship. The last speaker was followed by an interactive session.

    The Chief Executive Officer of YiSHDA, Joseph Emmanuel Yaba, said the NGO would hold the programme quarterly within towns and communities in Nigeria. He said: “As part of our sustainability plan, the event has been designed as a quarterly program and more youths will also have the opportunity to benefit from the programme. Our target is to impact thousands of youths in two years.”

    Some participants, who spoke with CAMPUSLIFE, commended the organisers for opening their eyes to opportunities. Kenneth Gwomna hoped the participants would be part of policy makers in future. He said: “Nigerian youths have great potential in leadership and I hope some of us who participated in the programme would join forces and give our country a good leadership in 2015.”

    Christian Iji, 500-Level Industrial Technology Education, Federal University of Technology, Minna (FUT MINNA), said he was “uplifted” after the event. Grace Abaniwo, Banking and Finance, Kogi State Polytechnic, said the summit was worthwhile.

    In his remark, Elder John Adamu, who is the NGO’s Board of Trustees chairman, was confident that there was hope for Nigeria, saying: “The future is bright and with this caliber of youths, I believe that we will get to our destination of prosperity and national peace.”

    He advised the participants to improve on the knowledge they acquired during the summit. Certificates were given to the participants at the end of the event.

  • NGO empowers youths

    It was all joy at Ijegun and six other neighbouring communities under the Alimosho Local Government when Bestspring Children and Youth Development Foundation, a non-governmental organisation committed to holistic development of children and youth empowerment visited the area.

    The programme, tagged ‘Project C-YED, which is an acronym for Community Youth Empowerment and Development, came as an intervention outreach meant to empower the disadvantaged youth in the community and its environs.

    The programme which was held at the Ijegun Town Hall had in attendance traditional chiefs, residents of the area, community youth organisations and the youths in attendance.

    The President of the NGO, Mrs. Aramide Oikelome, said that the organisation was deeply concerned at the alarming spate of youth dropouts from school and teenage pregnancy as well as the level of poverty and idleness prevalent among the youth in the community.

    Among other things, she said Bestspring was out to educate the youths in “the communities on reproductive health, sexually transmitted infectious and HIV/AIDS, even as it empowers them educationally and through skill acquisition initiatives”

    She said, “We are in Ijegun to launch our Project C-YED. The project is an intervention outreach to indigent youths in Ijegun and six other neighbouring communities of Okeorube, Ijeododo, Isheri-Osun, Ijeagemo, Kudeibu and Fagbile under Alimosho Local Government. These communities are largely underdeveloped, flood-prone and poverty-stricken.

    “We are deeply concerned at the increasing rate of male dropouts from school and teenage pregnancy, the excruciating poverty, idleness and sheer waste of youthful strength/talent due to ignorance and lack of vital information on reproductive health in these seven communities, which has led to the spread of STIs, HIV/AIDS amongst youths.

    “We are set to educate the youths in these communities on reproductive health, sexually transmitted infections and HIV/AIDS. We are also set to empower the youths. We will assist them to acquire basic vocational skills and empower them with starting capital so they can fend for themselves.”

    The president also hinted that the organisation will mentor those that desire to go back to school “and assist them with scholarship as God provides for us,” adding that even though they do not have “foreign partners” at the moment as they have to make do with their meager resources, they hope that help will come their way because according to her, “there is a lot of work to be done to reshape the lives of our youths and salvage them from the dregs of wastage and destruction”.

    Project Manager of the Foundation, Miss Olayinka Asubiaro, said the high rate of teenage pregnancy in the communities, will make them embark on “general training every Saturday for the next one year in this community. The youths will have opportunity to acquire various skills. Economically, we will empower many people in Ijegun and six other communities.”

    A medical doctor and member of the Board of Trustee of the foundation, Dr. Dapo Ayeni, enlightened the youths on reproductive health. He urged them to understand their physiological status. This, he said, will help them not to take actions or be involved in anything that could be inimical to their health.

    He appealed to them to have goals for their lives, adding that they should pursue the goals to become whatever they desire in life such as political office holders, lawyers, doctors and so on. He also enjoined ladies to avoid teenage pregnancy so that they can get to the top.

     

    Earlier, Chairman, Ijegun Central CDA, High Chief Kabiru Mustapha submitted that the high rate of teenage pregnancy in Ijegun was an index of home training. If a man can handle his family properly, I don’t think there would be such things.

    He said, “The coming of the Bestspring Foundation to Ijegun is well appreciated. This programme is very nice one. I pray that God will continue help this foundation so that it will continue to impact positively on the people. The youths should maximise the opportunities brought to the community by the foundation.”

    While Miss Esther Pieterse, Future Hope Orphanage Home, Germany Wing, who was in the country when the programme was organised praised the Foundation for giving scholarships to the children of the Future Hope Orphanage Home, Ijegun, Lagos.

    She said, “Ijegun is at the crossroad now, it is either they go the good way and develop solidarity, they develop the community, or they go the other way and breed more criminals in Lagos. But with what I have seen so far in Ijegun, people have hope and they are strong believers.

    ”What I have seen is that they have to struggle because they have hope in one hand and then on the other hand, they have to live with so many obstacles and pains in their daily lives. I am in Nigeria because we want to build an orphanage in Ogun State for 63 children. Honestly, there is too much poverty, especially street children that have lost their parents. It is an enormous danger for the society as well. If you just leave them on their own, they would be lost and 90 per cent of them would probably become criminals.”

    Madam Foyeke Alayande led members of the Morning Star Society of the Yaba Baptist Church, Lagos to the programme. The society donated some gift items to members of the community. She commended the foundation for the initiative.

    The youths in attendance welcomed the initiative, even as the promised to leverage on the opportunity to become better citizens. One of those that responded to the foundation gesture. Mr. Funware Pepper, a student, said the foundation has come to liberate them from illiteracy and as a breakthrough to the youths in Ijegun.

    Miss Esther Seidu, an ex-student seeking admission to tertiary institution advised young girls to “say no to sex which can lead to teenage pregnancy. I will not involve myself in any relationship for now because relationship nowadays leads to sex. I will keep myself till after my wedding. It is not bad to have a relationship but you need to say NO to sex.”

     

    For Miss Folake Adewumi, 20, a secondary school leaver, it is important for youths to keep themselves from teenage pregnancy because of the shame associated with it. “I am making a commitment that I will not indulge in sexual relationship until after my wedding. Boys have been running after me but I won’t go into relationship with them.”

    Miss Bukola Olawale extolled Bestspring Foundation for the relevance of Project C-YED to youths. “Personally I have observed that so many youths are getting pregnant in this community. The causes of the pregnancy range from idleness, lack of home training and stubbornness. Many youths don’t know anything about their reproductive health.”

    Mr. Abdul-Azeez Oluwafemi said he did not have the time to go into relationship with a girl because his education was his priority.

    Bestspring Foundation also seized the opportunity to present the second leg of scholarship awards to pupils of Future Hope Orphanage, Ijegun.

     

  • Youth Forum lauds health service delivery

    The Nigeria Youth Leaders Forum (NYLF) has praised the FCT Administration for its provision of qualitative health and human services in the six area councils.

    This is contained in a statement signed by Mr Mavin Yobana and Emeka Uzoka, NYLF’s National President and General Secretary, respectively, and made available to journalists in Abuja.

    “We have embarked on a performance evaluation tour within the six area councils in the FCT.

    “It is with a view to presenting to Nigerians the progress made so far in the administration of health and human services in our capital city.

    “It is therefore, consequent upon the above that we resolved among other issues to pass a vote of confidence in the administrators of health and human services in the FCT under the administration of Sen. Bala Mohammed.

    “We equally commend the Secretary of Health and Human Services, FCT, Dr Bumola Onakomaiya,” it quoted the forum as saying.

    The statement further said the assessment was part of the contribution of the forum to ensure efficient service delivery.

    “It is to ensure that the nation’s ”collective goal in deepening our democratic experience is to build community of equals, wherein everyone has responsibility for the well-being of all.”

    According to the statement, the people’s commitment and resolve are to ensure that the practice of democracy go beyond the claim to free choice.

    It added that it was in the spirit of ‘’our democratic enterprise that we are making our assessment of the health and human services in the six area councils.

    “We have found it expedient to present to the general public the evidence of stronger health programmes in the FCT, which is for the general benefit of all Nigerians.”

    NYLF is a platform that unites leaders of about 50 youth associations in the six geo-political zones in the country.

    The major groups are the Niger Delta Youth Leader Administrative Council, Arewa Youths, Ohaneze Ndigbo Youth Wing, Oduduwa Youth Renaissance Group, and the Middle Belt Youth Forum.

  • NGO to empower youths

    A Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) under the aegis of True Nigeria Worldwide Organisation has rolled out plans for promoting economic empowerment among youths in the country.

    Its founder, Mr Emmanuel Aluede, told reporters in Lagos that the organisation would be involved in identifying and investing in talents of young people, development of sport and empowering them in vocational training programmes.

    He said the objective was to give Nigerians true freedom from all the evils suffered in over 50 years of independence. “We will not be a talk-shop for the Nigeria people but an organisation that provides practical people oriented solutions for the benefits of the people.

    “The main desire of these organisation is to help empower the Nigeria people through provision of expression, the Nigeria people will be able to confront the barriers of poverty, under development, corruption, bad governance at all levels whilst they become socio-economically and politically empowered through projects and programmes to be implemented and delivered from the organisation transformation agenda action plan” he said.

    He lamented the fact that Nigeria government has in the last fifty years found it difficult to address the various issues that the people, through initiations of policies that would help create employment and reduce poverty in the country.

    Our vision is not just to stimulate the process needed to reverse these trends but also to ensure that better transparent, prudent and accountable leadership are in place across the three tiers of government in Nigeria in the near future, with a clear approach to ensure the sustainability of good governance for the people.

  • Jonathan urges youth on peace

    President Goodluck Jonathan has advised Muslim youths to imbibe the spirit of the Ramadan during and after the holy month.

    The President said the call became necessary as the country seeks peace in the face of mounting security challenges in some parts of the country.

    Jonathan spoke on Tuesday night while breaking fast with Muslim youth leaders across the country.

    While emphasising the importance of peace to nation building and development, the President, who was represented by his Special Adviser on Political Matters, Ali Ahmed Gulak said without peace, delivering on developmental projects would be impossible.

    He urged the youth leaders not to despair, saying the country would overcome its numerous challenges and emerge stronger.

    The President used the occasion to commend the patriotism of youths in Borno State, who collaborated with the military Joint Task Force (JTF) to fight the insurgency in the region.

    “The situation is now improving in the Northeast. The youths are emboldened as they are helping in chasing the insurgents, arresting, and handing them over to the JTF”, he said.

    On his part, Gulak called on the nation’s youths to support the administration in its quest to keep the country united and stronger.

    In his remarks, an official of the National Council of Muslim Youths Organisation (NACOMYO), Malam Suleiman said violence is alien to Islam and Christianity as both Quran and the Bible were never in support of it.

    “If both religions do not preach violence, why then are our youths carrying guns and killing innocent people? Even our tradition does not encourage violence, so where does this come from?” he queried.

    He urged youths to be courageous by turning down invitation to be used as tools of violence.

     

  • Katsina trains 4, 820 youths

    A total of 4, 820 youths have been trained in various skills at the Katsina Youth Crafts Village since it was established in 2009 by the state government, an official has said.

    The Special Adviser on Science and Technology to Governor Ibrahim Shema,Alhaji Sule Kuki, said this in an interview with the newsmen in Katsina.

    He said the centre was established to train unemployed youths on various skills in order to make them self employed.

    “The beneficiaries were trained on trades like welding and fabrication, tie and dye, auto mechanics and electrical, handset and computer repairs, carpentry and others,” he said.

    The special adviser said those trained were assisted by the government with working tools and start up capital with which to set up their own businesses.

    According to him, the beneficiaries included youths from the state and its neighbours as well as the neighbouring Niger Republic.

    Kuki said the state government had recently approved the construction of two additional skills training centres in Daura and Funtua following the successes recorded by the youth crafts village.

    “Many officials from other states have visited the crafts village to study the operations and facilities for its replication in their respective states,” he said.

  • Commissioner seeks youth environmental advocacy

    agos State Commissioner for the Environment Mr Tunji Bello has advocated the inclusion of youths in environmental advocacy.

    He said over the years, adults had continued to assume that they know best but the convention on the rights of child demands that we question that assumption.

    The commissioner spoke at the fifth anniversary of Climate Change Club for schools.

    He urged adults to listen to children and ensure that their views inform decisions and actions taken on behalf of them.

    Bello stated that state Governor Babatunde Fashola is driven by the vision of attaining a cleaner and sustainable environment, believing that promoting children’s participation in this sphere is about fulfilling their rights to be active citizens that can always rise in defense of the environment.

    He commended the children on their achievements in the areas of “ Me and My Tree Programme” waste management, waste sorting, the 3 Rs( Reduce, Reuse and Recycle) environmental advocacy, noting that it has greatly enhanced government’s effort at curbing degradation in the environment.

    Earlier, Governor Fashola revealed that the total number of children involved in Climate Change now stands at 21,893 spread across the 654 private and 2,116 public primary and secondary schools in the state. According to the governor, the children are not passive members but change agents by starting at home.

    agos State Commissioner for the Environment Mr Tunji Bello has advocated the inclusion of youths in environmental advocacy.

    He said over the years, adults had continued to assume that they know best but the convention on the rights of child demands that we question that assumption.

    The commissioner spoke at the fifth anniversary of Climate Change Club for schools.

    He urged adults to listen to children and ensure that their views inform decisions and actions taken on behalf of them.

    Bello stated that state Governor Babatunde Fashola is driven by the vision of attaining a cleaner and sustainable environment, believing that promoting children’s participation in this sphere is about fulfilling their rights to be active citizens that can always rise in defense of the environment.

    He commended the children on their achievements in the areas of “ Me and My Tree Programme” waste management, waste sorting, the 3 Rs( Reduce, Reuse and Recycle) environmental advocacy, noting that it has greatly enhanced government’s effort at curbing degradation in the environment.

    Earlier, Governor Fashola revealed that the total number of children involved in Climate Change now stands at 21,893 spread across the 654 private and 2,116 public primary and secondary schools in the state. According to the governor, the children are not passive members but change agents by starting at home.

     

  • Jonathan advises youths on tolerance

    President Goodluck Jonathan has advised Nigerian youths to use religion to foster peace and unity in the country, even as religious youth leaders blamed the spate of societal decadence, especially violence, on the failure of religious leaders to impact teachings geared towards tolerance, peace and national unity in their followers.

    Speaking in Abuja at the first Nigerian Inter-religious Youth Summit, President Jonathan, who noted that the summit could not have come at a better time than now, said religion should be more than going to churches or mosques every day.

    Jonathan, who was represented by his Senior Special Assistant on Youth and Student Affairs, Jude Imagwe said:  “We have to be tolerant of others if we must move our society forward. When went wrong? There was a time in this country when we used to wait eagerly for exchange of gifts from our neighbours, Muslims and Christians during Sallah and Christmas. We have to start preaching peace, but to achieve peace, we must work for peace.”

    The convener of the summit, Timothy Ademola said the blame of the present rot should be directed at religious leaders, saying: “It has been argued that if religious teachers and scholars can come up with sacred identity constructs that outline more peaceful world views, the world will, to a large extent, be made much better.

    “Given the fact that youths constitute the most active segment of any religion when it comes to the implementation of its sacred identity constructs, it goes without saying that such constructs become more socially-accommodating and productive.

    “The youth that adopt the will become more socially accommodating and productive. At this level, religion actively becomes an instrument for youth empowerment and constructive change.”

    The President of Youth Wing of Christian Association of Nigeria (YOWICAN), Simon Dolly urged understanding between religious faiths.

    He said: “We need to understand each other, work together and build bridges. We should build on our strength rather than look at our weaknesses.”

    In his presentation, the National President of National Council of Muslim Youth Organisation (MACOMYO), Kamaldeen Akintunde regretted that hypocrisy on the part of religious leaders has contributed, in no small measures, to the spate of violence in the country.

    “Since religion, as a concept, means different things to different people, we should then strive to make it an agent of stability. This is more so because religious intolerance has cost the country so much in our socio-political and economic development.

    While he canvassed for constitutional regulation of religious activities, the youth leader urged political, religious and community leaders to be cautious when making comments on religious issues.

    The representative of Eckankar said the solution to violence in the country is peace.

  • Indecent clothes and the youth

    Dress the way you want to be addressed is a popular saying, which is being used to remind people to dress responsibly. As human civilisation evolves through ages, things change in the way we conduct our affairs and express our liberty. The present western civilisation guarantees freedom for all humans, who espouse it. But some have taken the freedom too far.

    In most tertiary institutions today, students are going wild in the way they dress to lecture rooms. Skimpy dresses and sagging are common sights in higher institutions. Students see unAfrican dresses as glamour and style. For female students, the notion is that skimpy dresses make them to look attractive to the opposite sex. For boys, sagging is to show their colleagues that they are current with western fashion code.

    It is quite unfortunate that these young ladies and boys who indulge in this act of indecent dressing fail to realise that it does not add to their beauty neither does it make them look attractive to the opposite sex.

    By dressing shabbily, they have lost their Africaness.

    Fashion, being one of the most fascinating areas of human endeavour, can it be said that its designers and customers are bringing the rest of the world to embrace the western code of dressing? Or are they consciously seeking to return the world to the age when nudity was the order of the day?

    In Africa, people have the belief human society must be governed by decency; every African parent, especially mothers want their kids to be well-behaved and grow up in a morally sound and responsible society. But to what can we attribute the growing trend of skimpy dress in our society? A drift towards immorality and promiscuity?

    It is sad to note that our streets and campuses have been turned into porn-viewing cinemas by misfits whose mode of dressing has brought disgrace to our society. Many parents even help their children to dress indecently and allow them to go to the public half-naked. The most poignant thing to note here is that some parents buy bad clothes for their children.

    This is purely cultural imperialism because our brains have been overwhelmed by western culture. In this regards, the mass media is culpable in spreading the offensive approach to dressing.

    Fashion can help improve appearance and boost self-confidence. The right outfit can help to minimise some physical flaws and enhance beauty. It can also help change how one is addressed by others.

    However, many ladies want to follow the crowd to be in vogue without critically establishing their reasons for dressing shabbily. This is why most ladies that are supposed to be the pride of womanhood walk half-naked on the streets.

    To stem the growing tide of indecent dressing on campus, managements of tertiary institution have established committees to check the act and penalise offenders. Many students have been caught and expelled in various schools.

    Exposure of the body is likened to an advert placement, a notice telling people of the availability of products. Cases of sexual harassment and rape are often traced to the exposure of sensitive body parts. The consequences of indecent dressing are obvious: it debases human beings; it increases crime in the society and attracts insults to the dresser.

    My advice to the youth is that we must return to our African root. We must wear clothes that suit our body and not clothes that look good to our friends. If we dress to expose our sensitive body parts, we would have exposed ourselves to ridicule and embarrassment.

    We have failed to realise that what we see as unfashionable in African dressing style has distinguished our forebears and made our culture to endure through centuries. Generations before us had this inclination to dress nude but we should not forget the curse placed on them in the scripture.

    The government should not wait till rape and sexual assault become the order of the day. The Federal Ministry of Culture and National Orientation should embark on campaign against immodest dressing and show the citizens how such undertaking can be dangerous to our vision and intention as a nation.

     

    Seth, HND II Mass Comm., BIDA POLY

     

  • The youth as engines of democracy

    I suggest that there should be youth assemblies in the three tiers of government which include, the local, state, and federal levels.

    Let’s make use of the upcoming review and amendment of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and give the youth their constitutional role to play in piloting the affairs of this nation (Nigeria). This is because youths in any society constitute the major breakthrough which the success or failure of any kind of developmental initiatives by the government, corporate organisation or philanthropist gestures can be adequately rated or utilised.

    The Nigerian youth association should, therefore, wake up to their dreams and visions of discovering, catching, arresting and transforming a better future for the present and future Nigerian youths through ensuring that the proposed constitutional review and amendment by the national assembly in Nigeria provides for vital roles for their assembly to effectively play their various roles as regarding youth development in Nigeria democracy.

    The youth assembly of Nigeria has recognised individuals between the classified ages of 12-40 for a common aim and objective geared towards achieving a positive development and transforming influence on them. if this particular age group is developed in this county it will certainly stand for a better chance for the future of democracy in Nigeria.

     

    Muhammed Bala Musa,

    Dept of Mass Comm.

    IBB University, Lapai, Niger State