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Nigeria: Youths Advised on MDGs, Needs
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This Day (Lagos)
5 February 2008
Posted to the web 6 February 2008
Lagos
Nigerian youths have been charged to familiarise themselves with the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and the objectives of the National Economic Empowerment Development Strategies (NEEDS) so that their future would be impacted positively.
The pioneer boss of the National Agency for Control of AIDS and a former Senior Special Assistant to the President on HIV/AIDS, Prof Ibironke Akinsete gave the charge at a 'Summit on MDG/NEEDS and Nigerian Youths', organised by a youth-serving non-governmental organisation, Youth Vision Plus (YVP) in Lagos.
No fewer than 350 youths, drawn from 25 secondary schools and their Counsellors attended the summit to examine MDGs/NEEDS as blue print for economic, social and political development.
On why youths are being targeted for MDGs and NEEDS sensitisation, Akinsete, who is the Chairman, Governing Council of YVP said, "Young people have aspirations and want to participate fully in the lives of their societies. They are key for social change, economic development and technological innovation. They should live under conditions that encourage their imagination, ideals, energy and vision to flourish to the benefit of their societies. Proper knowledge of what MDGs and NEEDS stand for will help in the actualisation of these personal aspirations", she said
She therefore urged the youths to take back the message to their peers in their schools and the communities for wider impact. "Young people," she further said, "are confronted by a paradox to seek to be integrated into the existing societies or serve as a force to transform it. They are also a social and demographic group at risk with an uncertain future, even though they represent society's greatest hope".
She observed that Nigeria has a duty to develop its citizens to attain economic, social, political and cultural freedom. "The youths however should enhance their own development by getting acquainted with the Millennium Development Goals and its local version, the National Economic Empowerment Development Strategies".
"In organising this summit, the objective is to encourage the youths to be personally involved in the steps towards the achievement of the goals by 2015", she said.
The Summit applied facilitation techniques to impart knowledge on MDGs/NEEDS to the participants. The practical training session that lasted for about two and half hour was jointly handled by two Development Knowledge Facilitators (DKF), Oyeniyi Akinremi and Margaret Onah.
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About 17 schools requested that the seminar should be replicated in their schools for the benefit of other students. They also requested for the inauguration of MDGs/NEEDS Empowerment Club. Responding, the Executive Director of YVP, Mr Samuel Adikpe, promised to extend the message on MDGs to willing schools.
The summit was co-sponsored by 10 schools: Abbot Dayspring Schools, Ayobo; Barachel Secondary Schools, Ifako; El-Crystal Star College, Igando; Good Shepherd School, Meiran; Ifako International School, Ifako; Jextoban Secondary School, Ketu; MICTEC International School, Ogudu; P & P College, Mushin; Oxbridge Tutorial College; GRA Ikeja; and Sceptre Secondary School, Oworonsoki.
The British Council, Lagos, The World Bank Institute, Washington DC, the MDGs Office in the Presidency and Stayfields Communications also gave technical support
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