By Francis Sadhere

Agencies and parastatals charged with youth employment and empowerment programmes in Rivers State have been called upon to ensure that persons with disabilities and other vulnerable groups are not marginalized in government’s activities aimed at creating employment and empowerment for youths in the state.

MEMBERS OF MARINE BASE YOUTH NETWORK DURING MONTHLY MEETING

The call was made in Port Harcourt recently when an NGO known as Centre for Environment Human Rights and Development, CEHRD led three Youth Networks – Okana Youth Leadership Network, Marine Base Youth Leadership Network and Kpor Youth Leadership Network, to some State Ministries on advocacy visits.

Among the agencies visited include Ministry of Youth Development, National Youth Council, and National Directorate of Employment. Michael Chidozie and Queen Agba, CEHRD’s staff who facilitated the advocacy visit on behalf of CEHRD and the youth networks explained to this publication that the advocacy was part of a youth empowerment project being implemented in Kpor, Gokana LGA, Marine Base, Phalga LGA and Okana, Abua/Odual LGA by the organization with support from Nigerian Stability and Reconciliation Program, NSRP which is aimed at reducing violence in the society through a reduction of unemployment.

During the visits, representatives of the three youth networks urged the Ministry/Agencies and Enterprises represented by some of their directors and staff to strengthen the existing employment and empowerment processes to make them more transparent, accountable and Inclusive.

The Ministry/Agencies and Enterprises were told that the system of using either Rivers State National Youth Council or The Local Government Chairmen to select beneficiaries for empowerment may continue to encourage corruption and back-hand practices and sabotage the essence of the programmes as the true beneficiaries may not be selected or partake in the gains of the process because it may be unduly influenced to satisfy a few persons and their interests. The Ministry/Agencies and Enterprises were told to consider different channels of advertisement and reporting of their programmes, including mass media, to ensure that the information reach the intended beneficiaries.

The groups made case for special preferences to be given to the physically challenged, those living in Riverine areas of the state and other vulnerable members of the society as they may not be in position to compete favourably with others.

The Directors and heads of the Ministry/Agencies and Enterprises with their team expressed their appreciation to the networks for the advocacy visit and selfless service and interest in building peace in the state. They promised to improve on their services especially institutionalizing best practices in their operations. The youth groups agreed with the Ministry/Agencies and Enterprises that the communication lines should be open as they will need to work together to achieve the goal of a transparent, accountable and inclusive youth employment and empowerment programmes in Rivers State.