Communique on Youth Civic Engagement, IYD 2015
Greater Tomorrow Initiative, other youth organizations and several youths across Akwa Ibom State marked the 2015 International Youth Day on the theme "Youth Civic Engagement".
At the end of the one day Forum, a communiqué was developed and sent to all relevant youth ministries in the State and the
Special Assistant to the Governor on Youth Matters
The Communique reached is given thus:
COMMUNIQUE
INTERNATIONAL YOUTH DAY 2015 ON THE THEME YOUTH CIVIC ENGAGEMENT
HELD ON 14 AUGUST 2015 AT MONTY SUITES HOTEL EDET AKPAN AVENUE
LEAD ORGANIZERS: Greater Tomorrow Initiative, World Merit Nigeria and Youth for Social Change and Life Development
GUEST ATTENDANCE: Comrade Aniefiok Iwaudofia-SA to the Governor on Youth Matters, Elder (Dr.) David Umoh-Representative of the Commissioner of Youth and Sports, Comrade Ifot Ifot-Commissioner of EARCOM, Hon. Onofiok Luke-Akwa Ibom House of Assembly, Dr. Uduak Okon-Executive Director Youth Alive Foundation, Comrade Nseabasi - Past Chairman NANS, Mercy David - Youth Representative, Nduese - Entrepreneur and Mrs. Anne Udoh-Better Future Initiative
RECOMMENDATION
The representatives of the above organizations and participants attending the conferences agreed to the following issues and recommendations.
Noted That:
The National Youth Policy document (2009) does not have an adaptable implementing extract relevant to Akwa Ibom State.
Youth participation and involvement in governance is treated with a “compensation approach”, and not “development partners”. The approach is very important.
Government programs for youths are void of effective youth participation and engagement in the design, implementation and sustainability of such programs.
Government seems not to have actual and updated data capturing of youth’s needs, problems and positive contribution in the state. E.g. % graduates, % unemployed, % literate, % employed, % entrepreneurs etc.
There are no effective and accessible channels of communication and engagement between youths and government.
Many more support structures and systems are required to aid youth’s development in the state.
The multiplicity of the “want” of youths viz-a-viz the “needs” as represented by different youth groups is a limiting factor to wholesome youth development.
Youth underemployment as well as unemployment poses high threat to the Peace of the state.
A sustainable commitment to youth development in form of a policy with a robust implementing team of both public and private partners is a major factor to the prosperity and peace of the state.
Recommends That:
GOVERNMENT
Engage and support the creation of an Akwa Ibom Youth Policy document as an adaptation of the National Youth Policy to address the identified and relevant situation of the Akwa Ibom Youths.
Ensure that Youths be considered as integrated partners in state development, treated as such and engaged actively and effectively as such and not like a “a group to be compensated”.
Ensure that the design and functionality of government programs for youths should necessarily engage youths EFFECTIVELY in the program value chain for relevant and effective outcomes.
Ensure that data capturing and management is prioritized as a tool to measuring Youth program impact, outcomes and productivity viz – a – viz the dynamic growth and varied trends in youth development.
Ensure that direct, active, relevant channels of communication be created for strategic and effective engagement between Youths and Government
Ensure that youth development structures and system in all government departments and agencies are re-engineered to promote youth partnerships for progress and NOT limit it.
Ensure that Youth development is approached with an Inside – Out Methodology
Should create a binding policy document that will address the problem of youth unemployment systematically and sustainably, e.g 10percent4youth policy campaign among many relevant others
YOUTHS
Should re-evaluate their core values, mindsets and knowledge skill set towards peaceful youth development in the state.
Should engage intellectually across youth groups and between government departments for society benefits and not selfish interests.
Strive for unity in purposeful representation and speak with ONE VOICE in the bid to address the numerous concerns of youths in the state for sustainable societal growth not personal gain
Should commit to the PEACE of Akwa Ibom State by First, taking responsibility for their growth before seeking Government aid.
SIGNED
Greater Tomorrow Initiative; Youth for Change; World Merit Nigeria; Eagle Builders Foundation; Youth Alive Foundation; Better Future Initiative; Truth for Change Initiative; And all Participants (75) at the Event
At the end of the one day Forum, a communiqué was developed and sent to all relevant youth ministries in the State and the
Special Assistant to the Governor on Youth Matters
The Communique reached is given thus:
COMMUNIQUE
INTERNATIONAL YOUTH DAY 2015 ON THE THEME YOUTH CIVIC ENGAGEMENT
HELD ON 14 AUGUST 2015 AT MONTY SUITES HOTEL EDET AKPAN AVENUE
LEAD ORGANIZERS: Greater Tomorrow Initiative, World Merit Nigeria and Youth for Social Change and Life Development
GUEST ATTENDANCE: Comrade Aniefiok Iwaudofia-SA to the Governor on Youth Matters, Elder (Dr.) David Umoh-Representative of the Commissioner of Youth and Sports, Comrade Ifot Ifot-Commissioner of EARCOM, Hon. Onofiok Luke-Akwa Ibom House of Assembly, Dr. Uduak Okon-Executive Director Youth Alive Foundation, Comrade Nseabasi - Past Chairman NANS, Mercy David - Youth Representative, Nduese - Entrepreneur and Mrs. Anne Udoh-Better Future Initiative
RECOMMENDATION
The representatives of the above organizations and participants attending the conferences agreed to the following issues and recommendations.
Noted That:
The National Youth Policy document (2009) does not have an adaptable implementing extract relevant to Akwa Ibom State.
Youth participation and involvement in governance is treated with a “compensation approach”, and not “development partners”. The approach is very important.
Government programs for youths are void of effective youth participation and engagement in the design, implementation and sustainability of such programs.
Government seems not to have actual and updated data capturing of youth’s needs, problems and positive contribution in the state. E.g. % graduates, % unemployed, % literate, % employed, % entrepreneurs etc.
There are no effective and accessible channels of communication and engagement between youths and government.
Many more support structures and systems are required to aid youth’s development in the state.
The multiplicity of the “want” of youths viz-a-viz the “needs” as represented by different youth groups is a limiting factor to wholesome youth development.
Youth underemployment as well as unemployment poses high threat to the Peace of the state.
A sustainable commitment to youth development in form of a policy with a robust implementing team of both public and private partners is a major factor to the prosperity and peace of the state.
Recommends That:
GOVERNMENT
Engage and support the creation of an Akwa Ibom Youth Policy document as an adaptation of the National Youth Policy to address the identified and relevant situation of the Akwa Ibom Youths.
Ensure that Youths be considered as integrated partners in state development, treated as such and engaged actively and effectively as such and not like a “a group to be compensated”.
Ensure that the design and functionality of government programs for youths should necessarily engage youths EFFECTIVELY in the program value chain for relevant and effective outcomes.
Ensure that data capturing and management is prioritized as a tool to measuring Youth program impact, outcomes and productivity viz – a – viz the dynamic growth and varied trends in youth development.
Ensure that direct, active, relevant channels of communication be created for strategic and effective engagement between Youths and Government
Ensure that youth development structures and system in all government departments and agencies are re-engineered to promote youth partnerships for progress and NOT limit it.
Ensure that Youth development is approached with an Inside – Out Methodology
Should create a binding policy document that will address the problem of youth unemployment systematically and sustainably, e.g 10percent4youth policy campaign among many relevant others
YOUTHS
Should re-evaluate their core values, mindsets and knowledge skill set towards peaceful youth development in the state.
Should engage intellectually across youth groups and between government departments for society benefits and not selfish interests.
Strive for unity in purposeful representation and speak with ONE VOICE in the bid to address the numerous concerns of youths in the state for sustainable societal growth not personal gain
Should commit to the PEACE of Akwa Ibom State by First, taking responsibility for their growth before seeking Government aid.
SIGNED
Greater Tomorrow Initiative; Youth for Change; World Merit Nigeria; Eagle Builders Foundation; Youth Alive Foundation; Better Future Initiative; Truth for Change Initiative; And all Participants (75) at the Event
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