YOUTH GROUPS URGE NATIONAL YOUTH COUNCIL, ABUAL / ODUAL LGA TO SUPPORT TRANSPARENT, ACCOUNTABLE, INCLUSIVE YOUTH EMPLOYMENT, EMPOWERMENT PROGRAMME

By Our Correspondent

The Centre for Environment, Human Rights and Development (CEHRD), and Okana Youth Leadership Network in line with its resolve towards accountability of government to the people and the youths and working to reduce youth unemployment in Rivers state paid advocacy visit to the National Youth Council, Abual Odual LGA.

The visit was aimed at increasing information sharing between employment and empowerment agencies/ministries, youth cohort/statutory bodies and youths in the communities; as well as increase collaboration among different agencies and ministries involved in the delivery of youth employment and empowerment programmes.

The group urged the NYCN, Abual Odual to act above board by playing their roles as the apex youth body in the local government and become visible to their constituent.  The group asked the body to prove wrong the perception among several youths that the body is an extension of the state government and may lack the capacity to act as pressure group when actions that are inimical to the youths on economic opportunities are enacted by the state government.

The Youth Council was asked to convene a stakeholders meeting at the Local Government level in Abua Town hall where youths shall meet with them and discuss how economic opportunities will be distributed as they become available to the LGA. The group ask the body to begin the drafting of a youth engagement policy document which should be presented and reviewed by all during the summit.  The NYCN Abual/Odual LGA was urged by the youth network to increase information sharing between employment and empowerment agencies/ministries, youth cohort/statutory bodies and youth leadership network; as well as increase collaboration among different agencies and ministries involved in the delivery of youth employment and empowerment programmes.

The youth network also asked the NYCN to play a strong role in making sure there is increased commitment of agency/ministry staffs and executives of the NYCN Abual /Odual LGA to implement public sectors best practices on youth employment programmes. They should also increase inclusion of the physically challenged and vulnerable groups in the design and implementation of youth employment programmes.

To achieve the above, the network proposed that a youth empowerment register be kept at Gokana LGA secretariat for youths to register their names for empowerment opportunities when they are available and such register should be used to create a data base for information sharing and invitation for selection for particular empowerment and employment opportunities.

The youth also urged the NYCN Abual Odual executives to use their office to mobilise for more inclusion of community youth leaders through the league of community leaders forum in the selection process of beneficiaries of youth empowerment schemes.

The NYC executives promised to be set the ball rolling and plan toward the stakeholder meeting of youths and work more closely with the league of community leaders in Abual LGA to make economic opportunities reach every youth on equity basis.

The chairman, NYCN Abual/Odual LGA informed the youth network that Rivers State will be hosting the National Youth Congress in August 2016. He promised that he will plan with the network and youths of the LGA to participate effectively during the congress.

About CEHRD

CEHRD is a non-governmental organisation with its head office in 5 Abuja Lane, D/Line, Port Harcourt, Rivers State capital and branch office in the Ogale community in the Eleme Local Government Area (LGA). CEHRD was founded on 15th August, 1999. The organisation works in the areas of human and environmental rights, conservation and community development. For more information, please check. www.cehrd.org.ng.

About the Networks

The Okana Youth Leadership Network was founded in 2014 by the youths of Okana community through Centre for Environment, Human Rights and Development with funding from Nigeria Stability and Reconciliation Programme, NSRP to carry out enlightenment campaign within the community on the importance of using non-violent actions in the demand for economic opportunities for the youths, enlighten communities on how to key into ongoing or upcoming employment and empowerment programmes, advocate for an equitable distribution of government programmes within the community, L.G.A and senatorial district irrespective of age, gender, status, caste, educational background or disabilities and religious and political affiliation and actively pursue economic opportunities for members both within the network and in the community.