By Bridget Ikyado
Abuja – An NGO, Being Young in Naija (BYN), has called for a holistic approach to National Youth Policy in Nigeria to tap the inherent capacity of young people and meet their needs and aspirations.
The Lead Coordinator of the NGO, Mr Peter Akinnusi, made the call at a town hall meeting on Thursday in Abuja, with the theme: “Youth Investment for National Building.”
He said that government agenda for the youth had been “ad hoc and reactive”, adding that there was need to engage their creative energies.
He said the policy should create the necessary framework for the youth to aspire, thrive and contribute to national development.
Akinnusi said that the policy should be gender-sensitive and address youths’ exclusion and other historic injustices.
According to him, government should also exploit their skills in order to drive national growth.
“Young people with disabilities should be given equal opportunity to take part in conversations and decision processes.
“ There is need to engage meaningfully with the youth at the intersection of their identities, needs and aspirations.
“ To build a sustainable future for young people in Nigeria, a holistic youth investment agenda and policy frame work is non-negotiable.
“ Nigeria should reassess its educational system to make it at par with global standards, so as to adequately equip young people and enable them secure a dignified future,” he said.
Akinnusi also called on the government to create an enabling environment for youths to partake in leadership.
He said the town hall meeting was to further engage and create awareness among the youth, to push for a comprehensive national youth policy.
“Nigeria is predominantly youths. More than 60 per cent of the population is below 30. The policy should focus on education, capacity building and skills development.
“It should also focus on job creation, entrepreneurship, agriculture, ICT, health and healthy lifestyle,” Akinnusi said.
Ms Amina Salaudeen, Programme Officer, BYN, said that national youth policy should encapsulate the experiences of young Nigerians.
“We have to make every youth understand what the policy is; we have to act as a watch dog for the current government through the Ministries of Labour and Employment and Youth and Social Development.
“We need to know how the national youth investment fund was distributed, the beneficiaries and how it was utilised,” Salaudeen said.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that that BYN, is Oxfam’s Work in Progress project that seeks to create awareness on policies and opportunities for young people in Nigeria
The aim is to raise awareness in communities on the challenges faced by young people, including lack of social and educational support. (NAN/vitalnews)
