2020 INTERNATIONAL YOUTH DAY: YOUTH ENGAGEMENT FOR GLOBAL ACTION; IMPACTING OUR SOCIETY.
The Initiative for Youth Empowerment and Welfare Creation on this special day 12th August, 2020 set aside for young people to reflect on their social impacts in the advancement of society, and the role of corporate and government institutions towards supporting policies to improve the well-being of the youths in education, community development, youth participation, governance, socio-economic opportunities aimed at achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.
The 2020 International Youth Day celebration is unique in both ways by the declaration of the UN as a "Decade of Action" with a 10 year drive in achieving the 2030 Agenda and at the other side the global pandemic that has dealt a big blow on the world in achieving the 2030 Agenda. Upon this coin instance, its important to equip the youth force that represents half of the world's active workforce and energy base on a vast Youth Engagement Actions with individuals, academia, corporate and government agencies in the inclusion of young people as a virile, innovative and creative class of society as change agents in pursuing the Sustainable Development Goals.
The celebration is to enlighten and rekindle the passion for the goals by rapid and strategic youth engagements to bring positive results for global impact, hence youth groups at the local, state and national levels must show capacity in their engagements through their strategic engagement plans, blueprints, programs and projects.
We also wish to use this opportunity to urge the Rivers State government on lifting of the ban on community youth activities in the state in line with the UN youth week theme and urge the Ministry of youth Development to rise to its supervisory duties in ensuring youth groups function in the scope of their registration and sanctions meted out directly on defaulting youth groups than generally disband the activities of youth groups in the state. Also call on government at all levels on greater engagements and inclusion of the youths in governance process of the nation rather than on electoral purposes as seen over the years with a high bulge of older people in government.
Finally, we appeal to derailing youths to use this reflective season of the youths to turn a new leaf from criminality, kidnapping, banditry, terrorism etc. We commend Nigerian youths for their positive engagements and contributions to better the image of this nation in enterprenuership, entertainment, academia, health, construction etc.
Build the Youths! Build the Nation!
Happy International Youth Day!
Abiye S George
Executive Director,
Initiative for Youth Empowerment and Welfare Creation
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