The Nation Newspaper

Tag: youths

  • NGO flares exposure of youths to pornography

    A Non-Governmental organization, the Good Living Initiative (GLI), has condemned the incessant flagrant exposure of youths to pornography.

    The Lagos based NGO described the situation as worrying especially as the society is still battling with the HIV/AIDS scourge.

    Executive Director of the organization, Mrs Sussie Metu, made the condemnation at the Community Secondary School, Eguhuo in Ishiellu LGA of Ebonyi state during a sensitisation workshop on the dangers of the disease and early marriage.

    She noted that the influx of pornographic materials in the markets, stalls and homes have contributed to the prevalent rate of the disease which have caused untold hardship to victims.

    “If youths watch pornographic materials, it stimulates their sensitive parts and they engage in sexual activities to practise what they viewed”.

    Mrs metu regretted that the various video and print censorship bodies in the country are not living up to their responsibilities, as they allow uncensored materials into the market.

    “It is disheartening to see children watching films dominated by erotic scenes, as majority of films in the country mostly contain such scenes.

    She noted that these days, most television stations in the country show films meant for adults as early as 4.pm when most children are glued to television sets in their homes.

    “Another issue that needs correction is men urinating indiscriminately in open places in the full glare of children instead of urinating in hidden places to avoid exposing their genitals.

    She advised the students to shun pre-marital sex due to its inherent dangers but concentrate on their studies to achieve their life ambitions.

    A Director in the organization, Rev. Joseph Agbo, advised young girls in particular to protect their virginity as it was their pride that would make them valuable before their husbands.

    “They should resist all pressure from their parents and guardians to engage in early marriage, noting that it would debar them from achieving their life ambitions.

    He advised them to educate their parents on the dangers of early marriage and engage in meaningful ventures that would sustain you till you are ripe for marriage.

    One of the students, Nnamdi Ibe thanked the organisation for the gesture, noting that the students have learnt a lot from it while advising youths who have been exposed to early sex, to undergo HIV/AIDS test.

  • FG plans bill to fund youths ideas

    FG plans bill to fund youths ideas

    Following the death of 23 youths at the Nigerian Immigration Services, NIS recruitment exercise, the Minister of Youth Development, Mr. Boni Haruna has said the Ministry is set to establish a youth development bill.

    The bill, if approved by President Goodluck Jonathan and the Federal Executive Council will enable the ministry support youths with entrepreneurial ideas.

    Boni Haruna who received a delegation of former members of Adamawa State House of Assembly led by former Speaker, Alhaji Abubakar Abdullahi in Abuja Tuesday said the National Youth Development Fund is conceived to deal with employment deficit similar to the Fund established to deal with the current housing deficit.

    The Minister, while justifying the importance of the Fund said “it is not going to be like any other funds, but the bill is conceived to encourage the entrepreneurial skills of the youths which will invariably create wealth and reduce poverty in the society.”

    He said that with over 60 percent of country’s population being youth, the Fund will greatly galvanise the vision of President Jonathan for the youth development sector.

    The Minister expressed the firm belief that the provision of the Fund to the teeming youths will provide them easy access and optimal utilization of their skills tremendously.

    He observed that the Youth Ministry having to cater for over 60 percent of the population is definitely crucial and central to the development of the nation in general.

    The Minister thanked the delegation for their show of solidarity and support stating that he was overwhelmed by the unity and oneness of purpose which he declared is needed for the development of Adamawa State and Nigeria as a whole.

    Earlier, the leader of the delegation, Alhaji Abubakar Abdullahi while thanking President Goodluck Jonathan said the appointment of Mr. Haruna is the right choice.

    Noting his pedigree as former Governor, Alhaji Abdullahi expressed confidence on the ability of the Minister to realise the mandate of the Youth Development Ministry.

  • A mother’s death unites Ijaw youths

    A mother’s death unites Ijaw youths

    It was a burial, but one with a difference. It had a touch of youthful class. It further consolidated the hard-earned unity among the Ijaw and Niger Delta youths. Most of the reconciled aspirants who initially protested the emergence of Mr. Udens Eradiri, as the President of the Ijaw Youth Congress (IYC), including the key players in the crisis such as Jonathan Lokpobiri and Elvis Donkemezuo were in attendance.

    They all came to commiserate with Eradiri whose mother, Catherine Douye Opukiri, died at 56. Opukiri’s death was remarkable. She was the backbone of Eradiri during the post-electoral crisis that tore the Ijaw youths apart. Having observed the uncommon determination of her son to retain the presidency of IYC, Opukiri had no choice but to support her radical son.

    But at the climax of the controversy, Opukiri who was scared of her son’s life could no longer bear it. She died. So, she was fondly but painfully referred to as the heroine of the existing peace among the youths in the region. No wonder her funeral attracted all the youths that played active part in the crisis.

    It was, however, regrettable that Opukiri could not live to see the end of the debacle and enjoy the reign of her son as the President of IYC. Though she died as a young woman, she achieved what many people who lived over 100 years could not boast of. Udens acknowledged the quality of life of her mother at the interdenominational service he organised before the interment at the Cultural Centre, Yenagoa, Bayelsa State.

    “It is not the number of years one lives on this earth that matters. It is the quality of life that counts. Some people lived up to 100 years but achieved nothing. Sometimes, people even pray for such people to die”, he said.

    Udens was right. Her mother was significant figure in the state and the region. She was a graduate of Economics Education from the University of Port Harcourt. Despite marginalization of women and sometimes lack of interest in education by women, Opukiri stood out.

    She rose above her peers to acquire degrees and demonstrated her passion for education by making teaching her first profession. Her doggedness paid off. She was employed in the Rivers State Ministry of Education and later transferred her service to the Bayelsa Ministry of Education after the creation of the state.

    She rose from the ranks to become a Director, Secondary School Education, Bayelsa State. At a point, Opukiri became the Secretary, Hand Over to Civil Rule Committee (HOCRC); Director, Inspectorate Department, Ministry of Education and Acting Chairman, State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB).

    The late Opukiri who was born in Odoni community in Sagbama local government area, was also a Fellow, Certified Institute of Administration, Ghana. She died as a Grade 17 Director in the stage Ministry of Education.

    Udens was, however, elated that her mother saw her five children through education which he said had opened a vista of opportunities for them. He said his brothers and sisters were doing well in their chosen professions and advised parents to give their children best education. Opukiri was a proud grand mother to six children.

    Also, the Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta Affairs, Mr. Kingsley Kuku, poured encomiums on the late Opukiri. He described her glowing tones.

    He said: “Mama, you lived a highly fulfilled and enduring joyous life. You gave kids of value (apparently referring to Eradiri who is himself an engineer) to mother earth”.

    But the Commissioner for Culture and Ijaw National Affairs, Dr. Felix Tuodolor, who attended the reception after the funeral described the death of Opukiri as a great loss.

    But one of the sympathisers who identified herself as Fortune Dorgu seized the opportunity of the funeral to appeal to the government to pay retirement benefits to promptly. She condemned the prevailing situation of paying gratuities posthumously to retired employees.

    “We know that Mama did not have problems with money before she died. All l am saying is that the government should strive to pay people when they are still alive to enable them enjoy their hard work”, she said.

    Though Mrs. Opukiri’s death was painful, the IYC President danced the pains away. Eradiri took over the floor in a celebration that entertained the guests.

    “I lost her but I am dancing because of her uncommon achievements. People should imitate her resilience, resourcefulness, kindness and honesty,” he said.

     

  • Foundation graduates 150 youths

    Foundation graduates 150 youths

    The lawmaker representing Ogbaru Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Hon. Victor Ogene has empowered 150 youths who graduated from the Fidelis Ogene Memorial Foundation.

    The member representing Ogbaru Federal Constituency of Anambra State in the House of Representatives and Deputy Chairman, House Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Hon. Victor Ogene, has empowered 150 youths from his constituency as part of efforts to make them self-reliant.

    The youths graduated from the Skill Acquisition Programme of the Fidelis Ogene Memorial Foundation at Atani, Anambra State which was instituted in memory of Ogene’s father. The training programme was in conjunction with the National Directorate of Employment (NDE).

    At the event attended by Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives Hon. Emeka Ihedioha, as the Special Guest of Honour, all the graduates in the different fields which include Computer Application, Fashion and Designing, Electrical Installation, Barbing, Hairdressing, Catering and GSM repair, were given tools relevant to their trade.

    The items included 250 sewing machines, 100 grinding machines, 25 hair dryers, 25 gas cookers, 50 laptop computers, 15 wheelchairs, 20 electricity generating sets, clippers, 20 tool boxes containing components for GSM repair, 25 tool boxes for electrical installation, and additional 10 motorcycles, apart from 80 pieces he had donated earlier, and five block-moulding machines.

    Also, over 350 men, women and the physically-challenged, benefitted from the lawmaker’s generosity, as they went home with various items of empowerment.

    Many at the event praised Ogene’s achievements as the representative of the people. The National Chairman of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Chief Victor Umeh and the Deputy Speaker, Emeka Ihedioha, who is a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and members of his constituency, endorsed him for a second term.

    Ihedioha noted that Ogene has been a key figure in the House of Representatives since 2011, despite that he is both a first-timer and member of a minority party.

    The Deputy Speaker said this was possible due to Ogene’s commitment, dedication, loyalty and remarkable wisdom in discharging his duties as the Deputy Chairman of the House Committee on Media and Public Affairs, adding that he is also a good team player.

    Chief Umeh also praised Ogene’s impressive achievements both as a legislator and an emerging leader in Anambra State. He urged Ogbaru people to continue to support him, declaring that his performance has made him the number one choice for the 2015 House of Representatives election in Ogbaru Federal Constituency.

    His emergence on the political turf took many by surprise, given his background as a journalist. But Ogene has shown remarkable presence in the National Assembly since 2011 when he won election to represent the people of Ogbaru Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives.

    Although a member of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), a minority political party, Ogene has not allowed that minority status to diminish his passion to always stand up in defence of the voiceless, or limit his efforts in contributing positively to the process of reshaping the society through people-oriented legislation.

    His position as the deputy spokesman of the House obviously makes him a key figure in the parliament, as it brings him into close contact with every segment of the House and its leaders as they strive to make laws for the good of the people and also engender quality representation of their different constituencies.

    Currently on his first tenure as a lawmaker, Ogene has shown remarkable legislative astuteness to the admiration of not only his colleagues, constituents or home state Anambra, but Nigerians in general.

    To his credit, Hon. Ogene has, in the past two years, solely sponsored and presented eight people-oriented motions at the floor of the House in line with his philosophy of being the “voice of the voiceless”. And in protecting the interest of his constituency, Anambra and Ndigbo in general, he has also co-sponsored several other motions.

    Motions he had personally sponsored are: “Urgent Need to Correct the Imbalance in the Nation’s Geo-Political Zones “, “Stop Hospitals from Demanding Police Report Before Treating Gunshot Wound Victims “, “Urgent Need for Government Intervention in Ogbaru Flood Disaster”, “Urgent Need for a Pedestrian Bridge at Uga Junction “, “Blatant Disregard of Government Directive on JAMB Cut-off Mark for Federal Universities : Need to Call Defaulting Universities to Order “, “Unmasking Unknown Gunmen and Bring them to Justice “, “Alleged N59 Trillion Shady Oil Deal Involving the Petroleum Minister, SPDC Limited and Others” and  “Urgent Need to Reverse the Discriminatory Government Policy on Admission in Nigeria Unity Schools.”

    One remarkable thing about Ogene’s motions is that they all received full endorsement of the House. This in itself, many believe, shows the wealth of wisdom and depth of logic embedded in the motions.

    For instance, after the motion on JAMB cut-off marks, the House, in its resolution “urged the Federal Ministry of Education to urgently call the defaulting federal institutions to order, so as not to deny innocent candidates who met the government approved cut-off points the opportunity to write post – UTME exams.”

    The House also resolved, after hearing Ogene’s motion on the discriminatory admission policy into Unity Schools, to “ Mandate the House Committee on Education to, within two weeks, invite both the Ministry of Education and the National Examinations Council, in order to review the policy in such a way that would guarantee fairness and accord the Nigerian educational system more credibility and general acceptance.”

    Ogene had, in that particular motion, drew the attention of the House to the fact that while Unity School candidates from Anambra State were expected to score 139 marks and above to secure admission, candidates from some Northern states were required to score less than 10 marks for the same admission.

    Aside the motions, Hon. Ogene has also presented three Bills which are currently being processed for first reading by the Rules and Business Committee of the House.

    The Bills include: “A Bill For An Act to Authorise the Provision of Free Pre / Post – Natal Health Services to Every Nigerian Woman Pregnant with Child In Government Hospitals”, “A Bill For An Act to Repeal the Traffic Warden Decree 1975 and to Provide For the Establishment of the Traffic Warden Service and for Other Matters Connected Therewith and also A Bill For An Act For the Protection of Widows from Exploitative, Barbaric and Dehumanising Cultural and Traditional Practices and Other Related Matters.

    One common feature of Ogene’s Bills and motions is the unmistaken interest of the common man, which they seek to protect and nurture using the instrumentality of legislation.

    These laudable legislative strides have continued to win accolades for Ogene from different quarters.

    After his motion on discriminatory cut-off marks for Unity Schools, several comments flooded his Facebook wall, the popular social media platform.

    For instance, Ashimole Agaptus wrote: “You are surely fighting a good fight. These discriminatory cut-off marks should stop. Every Nigerian pupil must be given equal opportunity based on merit. Your interview really exposed so much rot in the system that we didn’t even know existed. Well done”.

    Charles Okoh, a Lagos-based journalist commented thus: “This is the singular reason the nation is still in the dark. If from the very beginning we make our children to live with this mentality, what happens when they grow? Until merit is considered over and above all other considerations, this nation will remain on this roller coaster journey to nowhere.”

    For Chuka F. Okwuosah, in far away Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, it’s just some words of prayer for Hon. Ogene as he wrote: “Keep up the good work Hon… The Lord (shall) give you more inspiration.”

     writes that the youths were given tools relevant to their trade.

  • SURE-P: 10,000 youths to benefit from training

    SURE-P: 10,000 youths to benefit from training

    Mr Peter Esele, the Convener, Subsidy Re-Investment and Empowerment Programme (SURE-P), Technical Vocational Education and Training (T-VET), said 10,000 Nigerians would benefit from SURE-P’s Client –Based training in 2014.

    Esele said this at the inauguration of the SURE-P’s funded up-skilling programme for artisans organised in collaboration with the National Institute of Building (NIOB) on Tuesday in Abuja.

    NAN report said there were two main training components of the SURE-P; the client-based training and citizen based training.

    According to him, a total of 10,000 young Nigerians will benefit from our client based programme, while 3,700 will benefit from the citizen based training this year.

    “ The client-based training is targeted at training beneficiaries for employment by Federal Government institutions.

    “It is also for unskilled training of artisans in specific sectors of the Nigerian economy, such as in building construction by agencies of the government mandated to conduct such training.”

    Esele said that SURE-P’s partnership with NIOB was in line with the client-based component, adding that it would benefit building and construction industries across the country.

    He noted that beneficiaries from the trade area would include; masons, tillers, electricians, carpenters, pop and plumbers.

    Esele said the second component which was the citizen-based training, would be provided by evaluated and verified private and public training centres.

    According to Esele, the training will take place simultaneously in the 36 States of the Federation and the FCT.

    “The beneficiaries would be trained in agriculture, ICT, water transport and maritime, oil and gas, creative art, telecom and building construction.’’

    He charged the beneficiaries to ensure that they improved their service delivery to their clients, particularly in the area of quality and timely services.

    Esele said that T-VET was domiciled at the Ministry of Labour to ensure the sustainability of the programme, irrespective of the presence of SURE-P.

    “That is why TVET is domiciled in the ministry of labour, so that whether SURE-P is there or not, the ministry will continue to work with NIOB to make sure that more Nigerian youths are employed.

    “ It would also ensure that more Nigerian youths are given the skills to be independent, stand on their feet, and be productive and contribute to the growth of Nigeria.’’

  • ‘Sport has made youths more responsible’

    ‘Sport has made youths more responsible’

    Parents have been urged not to dissuade their wards who express interest in sport.

    The Proprietor, Solidrock International Model College, Sango, Ogun State, Mr Segun Aiyegbusi, who spoke at Seventh inter-house sports of the school held at Home Science Secondary School sports ground said sport has made youths to be responsible.

    He noted that the role of sports in the development of the youth cannot be over-emphasised.

    “Apart from being essential to be physically fit and strong, sport nowadays is very lucrative, attractive and rewarding. It has also been an avenue for social healthy rivalry among the youth in the society,” he said.

    He said football has reduced wastefulness and unemployment among the youth.

    The school’s sport fiesta, he explained, is a medium to discover and showcase participants’ talents. “It is not a waste. Peter Rufai, the former Super Eagles goalkeeper, is a graduate of Law, so education is not a bane to sport neither is sport a bane to education,” he said.

    The school’s sports director, Mr Aiyegbusi Oluseye, said the competition is important as it keeps pupils fit and mentally alert.

    He said the saying the school has made it a tradition to take the pupils out every Friday for sporting activities.

    “Sports improve academic performance. Most of our pupils that do well in sports are the same ones that do well in academics. The importance of sports cannot be over emphasised,” he said.

    He called on the government to encourage competition among schools, saying it will go a long way in preparing them for international competitions. Asked why the school does not have a red house, Mr Oluseye explained that the school used to have one, but when parents complained about its colour, the school changed it to pink.

    “Majority of the parents who complained were parents of pupils in Red House. I don’t see any bad in having red house,” he said.

    At the end, Yellow House, won. with 11 gold, nine silver and five bronze medals. Green House followed with 10 gold, eight silver and six bronze medals, while Blue House also emerged third with six gold, eight silver and 10 bronze medals.

     

  • Confab: Group frowns at few slots for youths

    A youth group, Grand Visionary Youth Empowerment Movement (GVYEM), has frowned at the limited number of slot reserved for youths in the proposed national conference, even as they commended President Goodluck Jonathan for convening the conference.

    In a communiqué signed by its President Chukwuemeka Gabriel; secretary, Bibo Agbade and Legal Adviser, Samuel Uwaeme after its quarterly meeting in Aba, Abia State, the group frowned at the number of slots reserved for youths in the country, stating that youths as leaders of tomorrow were supposed to be given more slots at the conference.

    The communiqué read in part: “We commend President Goodluck Jonathan’s decision to convene an all-inclusive National Conference. But we express dissatisfaction with the list of conference delegates from youth organisations.

    “We believe it may be an oversight and that the Federal Government will have no difficulty in revisiting the issue and adding more slots for the teeming Nigerian youths who are leaders of tomorrow.”

    They scored the President high for his decision to bring Nigerians from different ethnic nationalities together to deliberate on how best the country could be governed and moved forward.

    The group also praised President Jonathan for signing the anti-gay bill into law despite pressures mounted by the Western world, stressing that homosexuality is un-Nigerian and therefore not part of her culture.

    “Our members across the country are solidly behind President Jonathan for signing the anti-gay bill into law despite Western pressure over gay rights and provoking criticism from the United States of America. Homosexuality is un-Nigerian and hence not part of our culture,” the group stated.

  • Warri youths protest port operator’s marginalisation

    The frosty relationship between the Integrated Logistics Services (INTELS) and its host community in the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) New Port area Warri, Delta State, boiled over as hundreds of youths from the community protested against the company.

    The peaceful protesters said they were unhappy about alleged monopolisation of the loading and offloading of oil and gas operations at the terminal by INTELS.

    One of the aggrieved community youths told our reporter that they are “unhappy that all operations at the New Port area of the city have been taken over by INTELS who do not care about our people.”

    It was gathered that yesterday’s protest was the latest in the unending bickering between the Warri community and the concessionaire over the latter’s operation.

    The host had on December 5, 2013, in an open letter to President Goodluck Jonathan, accused INTELS of deliberately marginalizing people of NPA Warri host communities in its employment policies, human capital development and youth empowerment programmes.

    The letter blamed “the infrastructural decay of Warri Port” on INTELS monopolization of activities at the Warri Port and sought to know “the political heavy weight that is behind INTELS Nigeria Limited”.

    More infuriating for the protesters was INTEL’s alleged shutting-out of indigenous contractors from the Port Operations, a move they said was contrary to the Local Content Act.

    Armed with placards and chanting war songs, protesters poured stormed the New Port gate before 7:00am in a number of buses.

    They prevented vehicle and human traffic in and out of the company’s areas.

    Their placards bore inscriptions denouncing the company’s policies and appealing to Federal Government to call the management of INTELS to order as well as to revamp the port.

    Attempts to get the company’s official to comment on the incident proved abortive as the few who managed to get into the premises said they were not competent to comment on the matter.

    However, the Manager, Delta Ports, Mr. Obumneme Onuenyenwa, who spoke to reporters during the protest, promised that the port authorities would intervene on the issue with a view to reaching a compromise between INTELS and the host communities.

  • What do youths want?

    The singular and most frightening demographic fact of twentieth century Africa is the bulge in its youth component whose consequence constitutes a paradox of untold proportion. The youth is, without doubt, the most active proportion of any continent’s or state’s population whose unbounded energies constitute a threat if not channelled to productive endeavours. Africa’s youth population is leaping in geometrical proportions, yet there is no correlative employment into which to channel their humongous exuberances.

    Now, here is the tragedy: By 2030, it is expected that many African countries would find themselves within a demographic window of opportunity that would allow them to reap the benefits of what has been called the ‘demographic dividend’. This results from the transition of the youthful population of a country to working-age adults relative to children and the elderly. The middle group is usually reserved for the youths who, it is expected, will have fewer children and would thus provide enormous boost for a state’s economic profile. We have the example of the East Asian countries and their economic miracle as illustration of the immense possibility of a demographic bulge.

    Yet, that bulge portents a serious challenge to most African states. And we also have the example of the Middle Eastern states and the Arab Spring as illustration of the negative dimension of such a bulge. There are about 65% of Africa’s total population today that are under the age of 35; there is a further 35% that stands in the demographic gap between 15 and 35 years (this makes for about 200 million people between age 15 and 35); and the continent offloads at least about 10 million of this youthful population into the labour market either as unemployed or unemployable. These figures are expected to double by 2045. In Nigeria, close to 70% of the population, translating into about 80 million people, are within the youth age bracket. More than 38% of this figure is currently unemployed. And the figure keeps rising!

    We can therefore interject the question: What do the youths want? This question provokes the awareness of our collective insensitivity as well as the willingness and readiness to take institutional steps to correct the imbalance in policies that engage the youths in national and continental agenda. The question is equally a rebuke to the youths who have no inkling of their manifest destiny and thus have abandoned hope of ever receiving the baton of national influence that would enable them to claim tomorrow. I don’t mean this as a critique. And this is because, apart from taking the radical way of unmitigated violence, the youths seems to have been locked into a constitutional closure that deny them legitimate avenues for contributions. Thus, while we pay lip service to the rhetoric of the role of the youths in the vanguard of democratic governance as well as within the political economy of a state, the youths continue to represent all that is bad within our development profile: kidnapping, robbery, internet fraud, political thuggery and militancy.

    The index of negativity which we decry today is essentially a national and continental indictment of our lack of institutional foresight about the role of the youth as a demographic imperative in our nascent development. And, surprise of all surprise, this institutional deficit is even enshrined in constitutional provisions. It therefore becomes obvious that our inability to respect the youths as an inevitable component of national development derives ultimately from our lack of diligence about making the constitution an enabling document that would allow the youths several avenues for participating. For instance, the only reference to ‘youth’ in the 1999 Nigerian Constitution surfaced in the term ‘National Youth Service Corps decree’ mentioned in Part Three, 315 (5). And this is a critical indication of the substantive exclusions of the youths that the constitution perpetuates, especially with regard to certain significant posts in the polity. Chapter two—Fundamental Objectives and Directive Principles of State Policy—section17 (3f) states that ‘children, young persons and the age are protected against any exploitation whatsoever, and against moral and material neglect.’ We are at a loss therefore to reconcile this constitutional contradiction.

    Yet, any meaningful onslaught against the danger of unleashing the negativity of youth unemployment, as the Arab Spring pointedly demonstrates, must be through an institutional reform. And there is no best place to begin than with a serious tinkering with the constitution. The constitution of any state represents the tangible document for promoting a political culture of a deep respect for the law contained in the legal document. Constitutionalism is premised on the notion that the government is tasked with the duty of making available provisions that would enable every segment of the state live meaningfully. And this can be achieved by engaging with the letter and spirit of the constitution. And in some instances, it becomes imperative to reinforce these constitutional contents with regional and continental initiatives and advocacies that energise what the national constitutions lack. In this case, I have my mind on the African Youth Charter, a definitive statement of intention, enriched by several other regional, continental and international programmes of actions and statutes, concerning the future roles and integration of the African youths in the mainstream development, democratic and political dynamics of their various African states.

    The evolution of what can be called a ‘new constitutionalism’, therefore, would be an abiding concern with strengthening, through the legal provisions of the constitution, a framework for integrating the youth constituent of the state into the governance processes that, in the final analysis, determine their future prospects. Studies have shown that there are two major factors that would be significant in determining Africa’s future economic growth, and especially with regards to whether or not African states would be able to reap the demographic dividend. These factors are, first, a bulge in the number of working adults and, second, the evolution of institutional quality—strong rule of law, efficient civil service and stable socio-political environment by which the demographic bulge can be effectively utilised. We have already achieved the necessary demographic bulge; we have an army of willing youths whose patriotic zeal remains untapped. And, this constitutes further news: these young ones do not care to be restrained by the usual ethnocentric biases that we have allowed to slow our progress for so long. What is needed to move forward, therefore, is finding the right constitutional arrangement for engaging them.

    To achieve the objectives of youth participation and empowerment requires several policy decisions and institutional initiatives that look to the youths as a constitutional necessity. The following can serve as the starting point of such constitutional reform:

    The first initiative requires strengthening constitutional means for increasing the respect for the rule of law. When the law is respected, it generates multiplier effects which enhance other democratic practices that benefit the youths;

    Constitutional enactments that remove exclusionary clauses restricting the youths from elective offices, and recognise in them viable participants in the governance processes. This can begin by making specific provisions regarding the youths and their roles in national development; evaluation and review of youth participation strategies in national affairs (i.e. the imperative of having a youth chapter in all political parties with youths serving as executives); evolution of elaborate national empowerment schemes that focuses the energies and attention of the youth.

    Education serves a significant function in the attempt to orient the direction of the youth towards national development; and the existing National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN) can be capacitated with constitutional muscle that replicates its organisational strength in the 36 states of the federation as a ready avenue for youth convergence and deployment for national affairs.

    Herbert Hoover, one time president of the United States remarked that ‘Older men declare war. But it is youth that must fight and die.’ In the final analysis, the youths and the constitution of a state represent the incomparable ingredient of progress if both can be made to synergise through a deep respect for the law of the land which recognises the youth. When all is said and done, the youths in Nigeria, and Africa, constitute our first and last hope. Beyond the demographic dividend, the youth is the future.

    •

    Dr Olaopa is Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Youth Development

    Abuja.

  • Niger Delta group urges northern youths to embrace peace

    A youth advocacy group, Niger Delta Organisation for Sustainable Development, has urged youths in some parts of the North to drop their arms and join hands to work towards the development of the country.

    The group’s National President, Dogubo Mologe, in a New Year message, urged Northern youths to emulate the Niger Delta youths who after some period of agitation, embraced peace and are now contributing positively to national development.

    Mologe also urged youths across the Niger Delta to guard against being used by selfish politicians to cause a breach of the peace in the New Year.

    Mologe said, as future leaders, youths should not be involved in counter-productive acts, but be more reasonable and responsible in all their actions.

    He urged them to stand solidly behind President Goodluck Jonathan who, according to him, holds the youths in high esteem. He said this has been demonstrated by his appointment of several youths into sensitive positions in his administration.

    Mologe urged them to give peace a chance so that all parts of the country can be developed for the enhancement of the standard of living of all Nigerians.