From Azi Peter, Jos
The Minister of Sports and Youth Development, Mr Sunday Akin Dare has charged Ministries, Department and Agencies of government to focus more on youth development noting that youth development is paramount to peaceful coexistence and socioeconomic development of Nigeria-nation.
Addressing the participants at the graduation ceremony of about four hundred and sixty-eight youths that graduated from training themed: The Youths and Peaceful Coexistence in The Community: The Plateau Case organized by the Institute of Governance and Social Research at Leadership and Training Center, Shere Hills, Jos.
Youth Minister who is the Special Guest of Honour said the youth peace training is paramount to this administration especially now that the entire world is witnessing one crisis situation or the other.
“The attention is sharpening the mind of our youth towards positive lifestyle and peaceful coexistence in our communities. I am informed that since its inception, this program has contributed immensely to the peaceful atmosphere we are experiencing in Jos metropolis by creating awareness of the desirability of peace in the minds of the trainees.”
Chairman of the occasion, who is the secretary to the Government of Plateau state, Professor Danladi Atu represented by the Commissioner of Youth and Sports, Hon. Victor Lapang said the youths constituted bedrock of any society. He charged the youths to impact values they learnt into the larger society.
He said, “Plateau state government has been doing so much for the development of youths. The administration of Rt. Hon. Simon Bako Lalong came in 2015, there was no youth council in the state, we met a court case for about ten years, the governor intervened personally and restored the youth council, the commissioner advice the youths to go back to their districts and registered with the youth council, through the Council, the state government have initiated programs. We have social investment programs where we train youths, last year, twenty thousand youths were trained.”
In his address, the Unit Coordinator, Citizenship and Leadership Training Center Shere Jos.Hills, Mallam Abdulmumuni Maimako commended the minister for the transformation of the ministry as minister of Youth and sports, exceptional patriot and uncommon transformer.
He equally commended the Director General of Citizenship and Leadership, Mr Jona Bawa for his leadership qualities and citing of projects at the center, the projects include, executive hostel, drainage, 40kv mikano generator, Maimako applauded the Host community and the Paramount Ruler, His Royal Highness Adagwom Jos Izere chiefdom, Ada Emmanuel Ajik, (JP), Izere is a hospitable and peaceful community.
The participants on arrival, were shared into 18 sections and arranged alphabetically, Abdulahi Wase, Bawa,Buhari, Ellagu, Gwomwalk, Goodluck, Gowon, Sunday Dare sections etc. as football competition was organized between Sunday Dare and Prof Ellagu, The Sunday Dare team defeated Ellagu 3 to 2 goals.
The Director General, Institute of Governance and Social Research, Prof. Essawa Ellagu said we must have to change strategies, the old people causes violence and wars but the youths dies in the wars, so we decided to take the youths away from the old people, if we take them out, there will be nobody to execute the wars, hence we started the camp with the youths coming here renouncing violence and therefore, creating networks as IGSR Ambassadors.
“We also find out it is necessary to curb unemployment after this, we involves them in skills acquisition like GSM repairs, Computers, catering, Tailoring etc and many of them now own their shops in Towns, those who can earned 500 naira a day, why giving their lives for 200? Often by the purveyors of violence unfortunately by the indiscipline members of political communities, we engage our participants on sports and interfaith dialogues.”
The participants issued the following communiqué at the end of the event.
For centuries, countries all over the world have been battling with problems of achieving sustainable peace in their communities and the society at large, it is in this regard, that the laudable efforts of the IGSR to train and educate the youths on the dangers of violence extremism, peace and Leadership qualities which manifest itself as the panacea to resolving conflict situations, curbing violence terrorism and crisis in our communities and the society in general.
The youths drawn from the five local governments of central zone unanimously resolved as follows as Youth Peace Ambassadors agreed to bring peace to the communities by being violent free and motivate other youths to do so.
Also to enlightened youths in various communities on the dangers of using violence in solving conflicts as well as encourage the vibrant youths in our communities to engage themselves in skills acquisitions, petty businesses, in order to combats idleness and curb unemployment in the zone.
The youth also agreed to celebrate diversity and condemn drug abuse, learn about other communities, religions, nationalities, and people in this regard as well as encourage and create awareness to the youths to participate in the sporting activities inside and outside their communities for the enhancement of peace among ourselves.
It was recommended at the event that capacity building training on the theme: violence in the communities, causes and the way out to be organized for traditional rulers and political leaders to enable grassroots awareness.
It was recommended that since religion is a source of strength, peace camp should be organized for religious leaders to sensitize and builds their capacities.
They however call on the Plateau state government to support the IGSR to extend this program to the youths of Southern Zone in order to have all inclusive benefits as Prizes and certificates were presented to the participants.
