By Justina Auta
The #BeingYoungInNaija (BYIN) Project Team has called on the Federal Government to implement youth-oriented policies via collaborations with youth-led bodies, key national agencies and policymakers.
The team made the call while briefing the media on its second phase of the youth advocacy project in Abuja on Friday.
The project is launched by the Oxford Committee for Famine Relief (OXFAM) and implemented by Chioma Chuka Consulting Services Limited (CCCSL) under the Work in Progress (WiP) alliance.
BYIN Project Lead, Grace Attah said the project wanted to amplify young Nigerian voices, highlight their experiences, challenges & the opportunities available to them.
“It also underscores the critical need to engage government and stakeholders on youth-oriented policies via collaborations with youth-led bodies, key national agencies and policymakers to achieve tangible global action.
“We hope to create structures to enhance youth and state engagement avenues via key stakeholder partnerships targeting organisations with a youth-centric focus, “she said.
Attah, also called on relevant stakeholders to deliver on the National Youth Policy (NYP), which she said had stipulated priorities, policy directions and practical support to develop young Nigerians.
“It indicates the readiness of the Nigerian Government and its people to meet the needs and aspirations of the youth and seek solutions to their problems,” she said.
According to her, evidence shows that Nigerian youth are amongst the most enterprising globally, using their skills to drive positive change and create value in their communities.
She added that their skills were often under-utilised due to lack of opportunities, support, encouragement to contribute to nation-building and development.
The team lead revealed that the complete implementation of the NYP would address these gaps and ensure that young people and the entire nation stand a chance of an assured future.
“Thus, today, we’re restating our call to government agencies and relevant stakeholders to dedicate more resources to youth development programmes, especially as provided within the NYP.
“We are also calling for the implementation of the NYP through partnership building and putting in place sustainable structures that support youth development.
“We also solicit the support of the media and well-meaning Nigerians to continue to hold the government and other stakeholders to account concerning the commitments outlined in the NYP,” she said.
Similarly, Princewill Ogbodo, representative of OXFAM, stressed the need to amplify youths’ voices and involvement for more national development.
Ogbodo said the project sought to create more awareness on youth engagement and to solicit for government’s support in youth development.
Also, Amanda Ejus, representing Education as a Vaccine (EVA), called on social media influencers to use their fame and platforms to encourage more youths involvement in national issues, education, politics, elimination of gender based violence amongst others.
