NAN-HG-10
Youths
By Olasunkanmi Onifade
Abuja, July 25, 2017 (NAN) The Speaker, House of Representatives, Mr Yakubu Dogara, on Tuesday said implementation of Youth Empowerment Programme (YEP) would strengthen democracy and enhance political and electoral participation of youths.
Dogara who was represented by Chairman, House Committee on Inter-Parliamentary relations, Samuel Ikon, said this at the launching of YEP by the Westminster Foundation for Democracy (WFD) in Abuja.
He expressed delight over the level of participation of youths in the democratic process of the country.
“The democratic experience of the country becomes more receptive to criticism partly because young people continue to play their role in being more critical of the actions and inactions of government.
“Surely, it is time for the youth to be empowered and to come on board for us to
break new grounds for the democratic survival of this great nation,” he said.
Dogara described the launching of YEP as more commendable, adding that its timing coincided with a period Nigeria ‘’is undergoing a process of reorientation and a change in the socio-political mentality of our people.’’
Dogara said the Young Parliamentarian Forum (YPF) from the National Assembly would be part of a three-year youth political awareness and empowerment plan to be implemented by the WFD.
“The Young Parliamentarians Forum of the National Assembly and the WFD representatives met with the leadership of the National Assembly in June this year.
‘’They clearly expressed their determination to politically emancipate Nigerian youths by mentoring them and giving them a sense of political inclusiveness and representation.
“Stakeholders, I am sure we shall come up with feasible and sustainable strategies that will ease the implementation of proposed youth development and emancipation programmes.
He reaffirmed the commitment of the House of Representatives and its leadership to promoting and pushing the constitutional agenda of Nigerian youths.
The Chief Executive Officer of WFD, Mr Anthony Smith, said the youth constitute 60 per cent of Nigeria’s population.
He stressed the need for the youth to be heard and needs attended to and included in formal decision-making process at the legislative and political process.
“Young people need to be constructively engaged in the political process for inclusive participation through youth-led initiatives and inter-generational partnership.
“To facilitate this, the YEP will build capacity of Nigerian youths for increased and well organised participation and representation in the political process.” he said.
The Speaker, Nigerian Youth Parliament, Mr Ayodele Obe, said youths were hopeful that the ‘ Not-to-Young to Run’ Bill would be endorsed.
He said the campaign of the bill seeks to reduce the age limit for running for elected office in the country.
Obe said youths had proved their capabilities in foreign countries in various professions and ready to take leadership position, if given opportunities.
The Country Representative of WFD, Mr Adebowale Olorunmola, said one of the principles of YEP was strengthening and institutionalising the available youth platforms across the political and civic spheres in Nigeria.
He, however, said that the inclusive engagement would involve male, female and People living With Disabilities.
Olorunmola said WFD would be partnering with various stakeholders like political parties, youth platforms, parliamentary, leadership and Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) to achieve its aims and objectives.
WFD was established in 1992 and funded by Foreign and Commonwealth Office in UK.
The NGO provides expertise in developing parliament, political party structures and CSOs. ( NAN)
OEO/DUA
Edited by Dada Ahmed