NAN-H-34
Empowerment
By Bolaji Buhari
Lagos, Dec. 13, 2017 (NAN) A non-governmental organisation, Dynamic Youths Organisation (DYON), on Wednesday called for more policies and programmes aimed at tackling human trafficking and illegal migration.
The DYON National President, Chief Elvis Obiekwe, made the call during a courtesy visit to the Head of Lagos Office of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).
He said that the youth could be empowered through education, skills acquisition and employment.
The national president said that many youths had been victims of human trafficking and other crimes due to frustration at home.
Obiekwe expressed concern that some Nigerian youths had become “slaves’’ in Libya where they migrated illegally.
“Government should make more efforts to actualise stable electricity supply in the country to stimulate small businesses and build on them.
“Stable power will support industrial revolution that will absorb many youths gainfully.
“With a functional system that gives hope, the youth will stop offering themselves to servitude in Libya as well as some other countries in Europe and the Americas.
“Frustration and crime will also reduce drastically. In other words, crime fighting should begin with offering jobs to youths, giving them means of living and engaging them productively,” he said.
He advised the federal and state governments to employ younger people to replace old workers who falsified their ages to delay their retirements.
He expressed the group’s commitment to youth development, saying that it was specifically created to make positive impacts on the youth.
Obiekwe said that DYON initiated youth development programmes whereby youths could be trained in various skills to be self reliant.
He added that the group had a mentoring programme for youths to be productive.
“We are partnering with individuals and corporate organisations that share similar ideology in this regard.
“In the first quarter of 2018, DYON will embark on a nationwide tour of our chapters to enlighten youths through our mobilisation programme known as `Youths: Leaders of Today’.
“It is a campaign to strengthen youths to take up positions of leadership and responsibility in our country.
“DYON is targeting programmes and collaborations tailored toward achieving a society where our youths will be productively engaged and offered opportunities of relevance,” he added.
He described NAN as a strategic information platform with wide reach and credibility.
He solicited the agency ‘s partnership with the group in its activities.
Responding, Mr Idonije Obakhedo, the Head of Editorial Operations, NAN, Lagos, who received the group on behalf of the Head of NAN, Lagos Office, Mr Mike Mbonye, hailed DYON for its initiatives.
He expressed the agency’s readiness to partner with the group in its activities and programmes.
Obakhedo said that NAN was a foremost media organisation with the widest reach in the country.
“NAN is a very important organisation with presence in all parts of Nigeria and some other countries.
“Our reach is unbeatable. We will work with you; we will partner with you.
“Give us the schedule of your activities in time; we will be there anytime,” he said.
Obakhedo advised the group to partner with other relevant organisations and stakeholders in an effort to achieve its objectives.
He also urged the group to effectively mobilise the youth for national development. (NAN)
BHB/OSA/IGO
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Edited by Shittu Obassa/Ijeoma Popoola