To observe October 18 as World Youth Day for Democracy, the NED (National Endowment for Democracy) USA is hosting an intergenerational and cross-border dialogue on youth activism. The purpose of World Youth Day for Democracy is to raise awareness on youth contributions to the advancement of democracy and encourage youth to become engaged in democracy-building. The Youth Network is encouraging its members to mobilize and organize activities in their own communities on October 18 to promote youth engagement and foster democracy-building efforts.

The October 16 event at the NED will highlight the importance of networking among youth and solidarity building for each other’s work across borders, and encourage young professionals in democracy promotion to develop and better implement their professional and leadership skills. Correspondingly, the guest speakers will address how activism has influenced their lives by opening new doors and by creating new opportunities for others to engage in political and social issues.

Amongst other global youth leaders who are to speak during the event is Kingsley N.T Bangwell- Team Leader Youngstars Development Initiative, ASHOKA Fellow 2008, Young Global Leader of the World Economic Forum 2009, Fellow Architect for the Future. He is to address the work of his organization, Youngstars Development Initiative, and its growing reputation as a strategic practice for widening youth awareness and involvement in the political process and governance in Nigeria and throughout Africa.

HIGHLIGHTS OF ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF THE FEDERAL MINISTRY OF YOUTH DEVELOPMENT IN THE LAST TWO YEARS

The Nigerian youth sector has witnessed many profound positive changes since last year celebrations of the International Youth Week. This brief dwells on the many developments in the sector, The highlights of attainment in the sector is as follows:

New National Youth Policy: A gift to Nigerian youth on this year`s celebration is the approval of the new youth policy by the Federal Executive Council. The policy provides policy solutions to challenges of street youth, youth in conflict ,youth in crime, unemployed and under-employed youth, rural youth, youth in prostitution, migratory youth while also tackling the traditional challenges of access to education, health and social integration. For the first time, the administration endorses the establishment of a dedicated youth development fund to finance the new youth policy as well as the enactment of a Youth Development Act to give legislative backing to the new policy.

National Youth Development Fund: A committee of my ministry has commenced work on fine-tuning the modalities for the fund. In due course, a comprehensive report will be forwarded to Mr. President for the actualization of the fund. For now, its establishment has been accepted in principle by the Federal Executive Council.

The Youth Development Act: Following the FEC approval of the new youth policy, a collaborative efforts is now ongoing to give legislative backing to the policy. Being the first of such step in Nigerian youth development history, the policy is to be given a legal backing involving the enactment of a National Youth Development Act.

National Youth Employment Action Plan: The year under review also witnessed the approval of a multi-sectoral,multi-ministry job creation plan for Nigerian. The plan is now the focus of government`s efforts to create millions of jobs for the million`s of unemployed in the country.

Creation Of a Youth Development Index :To provide a scientific basis for the assessment of government`s performance in the youth sector, the ministry also conducted a nationwide research into the status of Nigerian youth especially in the areas of health,education,employment ,social integration and others. This research led to the development of the first edition of the Nigerian Youth Development Index which confirms existing challenges facing the youth and which will be repeated in the next three years to determine progress already made in the sector.

Conclusion of a National Youth Mainstreaming Manual: My ministry has also produced a youth mainstreaming manual setting standards for line ministries and agencies on how to put youth matters in serious considerations at every point of public policy formulation and implementation. The manual will be mass produced later for distribution.

Inauguration of the National Youth Parliament: In our quest to expose our youth to leadership training and provide a platform for youth participation in governanace,a National Youth Parliament was inaugurated by Mr. President. The parliament subsequently sat, elected its officials and proceeded to hold two town hall meetings. The next sitting of the parliament is to hold before the end of the year.

Commencement of a National Youth Talent Hunt: As part of efforts to showcase the many positive sides of Nigerian youth, my ministry has concluded arrangement to organize a national youth talent hunt. This will take place this year .

Accelerated Development of youth centers: In line with previous pronouncements, the youth centers are now virtually completed. The eight centers are due for commissioning before the end of the year. In addition ,more than ten new centers are to be constructed across the country between now and next fiscal year.

Opening of zonal offices :The ministry has also opened and equipped its zonal offices so as to get closer to the youth and other stakeholders at the grassroots. The offices are manned by officers with mandate to coordinate activities in their zones and facilitate and reports on youth development activities.

Compilation of Directory of Youth Organizations: The ministry is also updating the directory of youth organizations published early in the year. This is to facilitate recognition of youth groups in the country.

Hosting of Local Youth Exchange: The ministry hosted a local youth exchange late last year as a prelude to further national and international youth exchange. Arrangement has been concluded for the exchange to hold again this year.

Grants to drug-HIV –oriented Youth Organizations: The ministry during the period under review disbursed fund for youth organizations engaged in Hiv/AIDS and drug campaign. The event was the first and the ministry is working on standardization of the exercise to widen the scope of organizations to benefit from the disbursement.

Ongoing reform of the NYSC:The reform entails amendment of the NYSC Act which implies amendment of the 1999 constitution. The highlights of the reform includes the following: increased financial contributions by the states and local governments; introduction of public-private partnership for fund generation; inclusion of a three month entrepreneurship training and strengthening of the secretariat of the service at the states and local governments levels.

Strengthening of CLTC:The Citizenship and Leadership Training Center has assumed a national significance and importance in the year under review. The Center is training and re-training repentant militants from Niger Delta in preparation for their resettlement. Its infrastructures and facilities have also been enhanced to attract more executive clients and generate more fund.

Resolutions of National Council on Youth Development: The third meeting of the council held in Abuja in May resolves among others to advocate a return to African cultural norms as a panacea to the many crisis of transition facing our youth. There was an emphasis on the states and local governments to pay more attention to youth developments among others.

Deepening youth participation in governance: The Nigerian youth are directly involved in policy formulation as evidenced in the nomination of their representative in the V20-2020 Steering committee, their participation in the special interest groups of the vision and the inclusion of youth experts in the thematic groups of the vision.

Online Entrepreneurship Training: The ministry will soon unfolds an online training portal in entrepreneurial and leadership training through which our youth can access training online to be followed by a quarterly face to face meeting with the trainers.

Enhanced Application of Digital Technology: The ministry places high premium on ICT in the youth development process.Hence,the zonal offices and the youth centers are being equipped with V-Sat for internet access.

The Federal Government has accused ASUU of rejecting a 40% salary increase. ASUU on its part claims it is not aware of the offer! Who is suffering as the two elephants fight?