Worried by high rate of youth unemployment in Nigeria, a youth group known as Okana Youth Leadership Network has tasked the Rivers State government headed by Chief Nyesom Wike on employment creation for the youths. This was part of the outcomes of the meeting of the group held recently at Okana in Abual/Odual Local government Area of Rivers state.
The meeting which was facilitated by Port Harcourt based Non-Governmental Organization known as Centre for Environment, Human Rights and Development, CEHRD in conjunction with Nigeria Stability and Reconciliation Programme NSRP, a programme of the British Council, was aimed at exploring avenues of ensuring that the youths in the community and its environs are meaningfully engaged through the youth empowerment and employment programs of the government.
Michael Chidozie, CEHRD’s Project officer who facilitated the meeting on behalf of the organizations disclosed that the meeting was part of a youth empowerment project being implemented in Okana and other communities in the state by the organization on behalf of the NSRP which is aimed at reducing violence in the society. “It is believed that if the youths are meaningfully and gainfully engaged, they will not have time to indulge in violence or restiveness”, said Michael Chidozie shortly after the meeting. The organisations also urged the Rivers State House of Assembly Committee on Youth Employment and Empowerment to strengthen existing laws and monitor recruitment and empowerment processes, to ensure that everyone is given equal opportunity. The network disclosed that it is planning advocacy visits to the State Government and State House of Assembly later this year to state their position and lobby the lawmakers to focus on the youths especially in area of job creation during their legislative deliberations and functions. They should make laws that will promote job creations and opportunities for the youths. “We believe that gainful employment for the youth will give them a voice of their own and make them good ambassadors of our dear Rivers state. It will help them to shun violence”, said the chairman of the group, Benjamin Enighenabo.
They further called on Heads of Government Agencies to put youths searching for entrepreneurial and technical trainings in their agenda through a transparent, accountable and inclusive recruitment and empowerment process.
The Okana Youth Leadership Network was formed in 2014 by the youths of Okana community through Centre for Environment, Human Rights and Development with support from Nigeria Stability and Reconciliation Programme, NSRP to carry out enlightenment campaigns 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 government’s employment and empowerment programmes, and advocate for an equitable distribution of government programmes within the community, L.G.A and senatorial district. ###
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