Empowering The Youth Against Killing The Youth.

By Julius Diamond

Poverty in Nigeria can be traced to many causes, one of which is lack of youth empowerment.

According to the Common Wealth, Youth are those people within the range of 18 and 29 years of age. Although, in Africa it is an emerging trend that people in their 30s and sometimes 40s are also referred as youths.

Nonetheless, youth are the most active segment of any society imbued with relentless energy vigor and drive, and the major catalyst for development. And as future leaders and key determiners of the peace and stability of society. Youth are indeed the greatest assets of any nation (Abdullai 2003).

For this reason the Nigerian Governmet from time immemorial began the struggle to aggrandizing the youth through many programmes and policies, including the National Accelerated Food Production Program (NAFPP), 1972 by Yakubu Gowon, Operation Feed The Nation (OFN) 1976, Green Revolution (GR) April 1980 by Shagari, Structural Adjustment Programme (SAP) 1986, by IBB, Directorate of Food Road and Rural Infrastructure (DFRRI) 1986 by Babangida, Family Support Program (FSP), and Family Economic Advancement Program (FEAP), 1993 by Abacha, National Directorate of Empowerment (NED), National Poverty Eradication Program (NAPEP), 2001 by Obasanjo, Poverty Alleviation Programme (PAP), (NEEDS) 2004. National Youth Development Policy (NYDP) 2001.

While these programmes did not yield positive outcome due to poor implementation and incompatibility of policy goals, and the delibearate formulation of policies and programmes by some individuals with intentions to loopholes and create personal gains. It was expected that any administration should create new ways to emporwering the youths.

But surprisingly, as we can see from the analysis above, there was no youth empowerment programme by the Gen Buhari's administration from1983-1985. Rather, the revers was the case. A sad and despicable event occured. Gen Buhari rather settled to slaughter and manhandle the youths. This was an uncallful war against youth.

It was to this that the youth settled to agree that what was paramount to every youth was survival: It was to first of all survive from the war against youths as declared by Gen Buhari before they can begin to think of fighting for being leaders of tomorrow.

This could be the birth of the unimagined youth restiveness in Nigeria till date.

To arrest this negative trend of youth agitation and restiveness, and for Nigeria to join the league of developed nations by 2020 as projected by the world bank; DR. GOODLUCK EBELE JONATHAN made it a must to pursue youth empowerment programmes aggressively, and skill acquisition at the national, state and local govt levels.

The Goodluck Jonathan's administration recognized empowernment/employment as the only solution. In this, he envisioned empowering the youth instead of killing them by:
1. Enhancing Skills Acquisition Programmes Via ITF and MSTC.
2. Establishment of NEDEP and NIRP.
3. National Youth development Fund
4. extablishment of Youth Enterprise with Innovation in Nigeria (YOUWIN).
5. Integrated Youth Empowerment
Programme (IYEEP) launched with the Mara Foundation.
6. FARMAsure-p, etc.

It is acceptable that the forgoing prove that there has been no administration that has given much priority to the YOUTHS than that of GOODLUCK EBELE JONATHAN.

Having agreed with me; will it not be reasonable to VOTE FOR CONTINUITY?
Or do we vote for a dictator who will rather settle killing our youths?

The ball is in your court. Your PVC is your power to determine your future.

Vote Dr. GOODLUCK EBELE JONATHAN.
Vote for Continuity.