DELTA YOUTHS LEADING SUSTAINABILITY (INTERNATIONAL YOUTH DAY/WEEK 2016)

Message of the NWODI DANIEL,
Executive Director, Students Without Borders International
(YALI - RLC Ambassador) on 12 August 2016.

MESSAGE ON INTERNATIONAL YOUTH DAY

The world’s young people – who make up the largest generation of youth in history – can lead a global drive to break the patterns of the past and set the world on course to a more sustainable future. Young people are directly affected by the tragic contradictions that prevail today: between abject poverty and ostentatious wealth, gnawing hunger and shameful food waste, rich natural resources and polluting industries. Youth can deliver solutions on these issues, which lie at the heart of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

In this first year of that 15-year plan for a healthier, safer and more just future, we count on the active engagement of the world’s young people to transform the production and consumption of goods and services so they meet the basic needs and aspirations of the world’s poorest people without overburdening already strained ecosystems.

Young people are traditionally at the cutting edge, and today’s youth have more information than any previous generation. Their dynamism, creativity and idealism can combine to shape attitudes toward demand and help create more sustainable industries.

Youth are already influencing how the world produces, distributes and consumes while driving green entrepreneurship by designing sustainable products and services. As conscious consumers, young people are at the forefront of a shift toward more fair, equitable and sustainable buying patterns. Youth are strong and effective advocates of recycling, reusing and limiting waste, and they are leading technological innovations to foster a resource-efficient economy.

When we invest in youth, they can contribute to new markets, decent jobs, fair trade, sustainable housing, sustainable transport and tourism, and more opportunities that benefit the planet and people.

I am proud that the government is actively engaged in supporting young leaders who can carry out the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including Goal 12 on sustainable consumption and production patterns. I encourage all young people to become involved in advancing the SDGs and demanding action by their Governments. My youth team is eager to connect you to our campaigns, which are being carried out across the entire Delta State.

On International Youth Day, I urge others to join this global push for progress. Let us empower young people with the resources, backing and space they need to create lasting change in our world.

Youths, my admonition to you is that you should endeavor to utilise the opportunities available to you through this youth organization with a view to achieve the much talked about Sustainable Development Goals.

You are luckier than we were during our youthful days. We struggled through the pages of papers and paid through the nose to attend conferences and workshops just to get the information you now have (and some youths have failed to utilise).

This is the first of the fifteen years to achieve sustainable development goals: key into it and you'll be glad you did.

We are dancing out of the stage of life, but we are glad we didn't waste our youthful years. We are glad we have left (and are still leaving) enduring legacies behind us.

Youths, sit up and take your destinies in your hands. I am proud of every youth in Delta State. And, I believe you will make your marks on the rocks of time!

Have a great International Youth Day.

OKPAMBOR FAMILIARIZATION TOUR

Honourble Christian Okpambor Familiarization Tour:
The Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Youth Mobilization for positive Change, Hon Christian Okpambor on his familiarization tour on the ongoing youth empowerment programmes: Youth Agricultural Empowerment Programme (YAGEP) and Students' Empowerment Programme (STEP) at Oshimili South Local Government Area of the State.

Photo speaks:
-Hon. Christian Okpambor (SSA, Youth Mobilization for Positive Change)
-Prof. Akpodiete (Dean, Faculty of Agriculture, DELSU)
-Dr Paul Okumgba (Department of Sociology, DELSU)
-Arch. Victor Okafor.

PROSPERITY FOR DELTA STUDENTS

INTERNATIONAL YOUTH WEEK 2015
-Youth Civic Engagements.
"Prosperity for Young Deltans"

PROSPERITY FOR DELTA STUDENTS

-Ogbe Collins.

In recent times right from the period of political campaigns till date the phrase "PROSPERITY FOR ALL DELTANS" has been a trending word.

It has been used positively when the Government does something laudable in the sight of the masses and it has been used against government when the masses are not pleased with Government policies.

When you think of this phrase a question comes to bare?
What is PROSPERITY?

Prosperity is the state of flourishing, thriving, good fortune and / or successful social status.  Prosperity often encompasses wealth but also includes others factors which can be independent of wealth to varying degrees, such as happiness
and health .

With this it can be said that  when H.E Sen. Dr Ifeanyi Arthur Okowa Chose this phrase he truly meant well for Deltans. prosperity cover a wide range of things but if we are true to ourselves we will agree that Prosperity is a state of
true happiness even if the needs of the populist are insatiable.
Thus when we talk about Prosperity For Delta State Students It simply imply that A Delta State where Government Policies are favourable to the students Constituency.

Primarily Government policies affects students in different ways ranging from Educational Policies, social policies, infrastructure etc

The students Constituency being one of the largest Constituency in the  deserves to benefit more from Government policies.
Today our Higher institutions which are supposed to be citadel of learning have  become poorly funded and has also become a home to unfinished projects.  Due to this students are exorbitantly charged thus expropriating the limited resources available to the students all in a bid to fund the institution.

Another area is that which the students sees as their right the area of Bursary and Scholarships. In this case Delta State has always been rated high this is attesting to the fact that the state pays high but lately these payment have been stalled thus leading to complaints in some quarters as it affects Delta State Students.
Prompt payment of these funds will go a long way in further strengthening government and students relationship in Delta state.

For the prosperity we desire to come to the students we desire a good working relationship with the Government, which can be strengthened when there is synergy between the Government and the Students.

Synergy that will come in form of Entrepreneurship programmes geared towards ensuring that students are are gainfully engaged in activities that will make them independent and also reduce the crime rate in our society.

Having studied the problems facing students on campus the health insurance programme will be a worthy endeavour if embarked upon by Government, students deserve the best, students deserve prosperity, students yearn for prosperity. It takes a Government that is students friendly to bring Prosperity For the Students. The Government of Delta State Led by H.E Sen. Has proven beyond reasonable doubt that his administration is one that will be beneficial to the Students Constituency.

RECOMENDATIONS :

Prosperity for Delta State Students    should go beyond the phrase Government should endeavour to fund our Higher Institutions cause low funding has always been an excuse for the exorbitant fees been paid by students.

Our bursaries should be paid promptly as we deserve to be treated with Utmost priority.

Government on its part should endeavour to bring the students into the picture whenever  they make policies that affects the students.

Entrepreneurship programmes and Leadership symposiums will also go a long way in restructuring the orientation of the students from violent yo nonviolent struggles, which will Invariably reduce the crime rate in our society.

-Ogbe Collins is the chairman, National Association of Nigeria Students/Joint Campus Committee, Delta State Chapter.

YOUTH CIVIC ENGAGEMENT

GENERATION OKOWA
True Consciousness|Empowering Generations

It is 2015. In 20 years time, 2035, majority of today's youths will be nearing their fifties. Life as we know it will be rounding off. The largest population age bracket is between 20 and 35 years old.
People say that what the passing generation gave today's youth is not sustainable. I agree yes. However, they gave according to the depth of their knowledge.

Today we know more and realize that active youth civic engagement is required for sustainable development.
We must rise up to the challenges of our time or leave even greater ruins for those to come after us.

The tools required to ensure faster change and development have been created. Electricity, Space travel, the Internet, Social media. We cannot sit back and wait for someone else to do the job.
Now we must engage our positively and together we will overcome.
-Mac

#Prosperity_for_Young_Deltans
Happy International Youth Day 2015
"Youth Civic Engagement"

International Youth Day: are you involved in a movement for change?

As young activists highlight their role in campaigns on social issues, tell us what movements you are involved in and what difference they are making With rallies, hackathons and guerrilla stunts - International Youth Day has got off to an eventful start as young people highlight the campaigns and movements that have shaped the past year.

Some 100,000 young activists are expected to take part in more than 100 events this week to mark the UN annual celebration on 12 August. This year, the theme is youth civic engagement, to shine a light on how young people are campaigning on social issues that matter to them, and to encourage others to get involved.

Those who were in central London on Monday might have seen some familiar young faces. Youth NGO Restless Development projected rarely-seen youthful photos of global icons such as Nelson Mandela, Eleanor Roosevelt and Mahatma Gandhi on to London landmarks such as Marble Arch and Trafalgar Square; it will be leading activities in London with campaign group Action/2015.

In Ghana, 1,000 young activists marched in solidarity with the Action/2015 campaign, which calls for countries to fulfil their aid commitments. Salma Ben Kahla, 24, who volunteers with the youth team for Action/2015, said young people are now playing a defining role in global events. “Youth in our country started a revolution and youth are leading the civil movement for change; we can do better as youth because we are powerful together,” she said.

In the past year, prominent examples of youth activism have included the Black Lives Matter movement in the US, which has brought issues of police brutality to the attention of media worldwide. Other youth-led movements have sprung up around the world to call for government action on a range of social issues.

Young people are thinking up more creative ways to get their voices heard. “Rap against rape” was the brainchild of two young Indian women using poignant lyrics to express the mood of the country’s growing feminist movement. In July, hundreds of passionate students in Taiwan stormed the compound of the education ministry to protest against revisions to high-school textbooks that they say present a biased version of history and are an attempt to “brainwash” them into accepting a “one China” policy. In a similar fashion, Peruvian studentsvehemently opposed new labour laws they view as exploitative.

Join the conversation

To mark International Youth Day, we’d like to hear from young people campaigning for change. What social movements are forming in your country and how are you involved? What challenges do you face? Leave your thoughts in the comment thread below, or contribute on Twitter @GdnDevelopment. If you have problems posting or prefer to get in touch anonymously, email us atdevelopment@theguardian.com.

Every generation of youths must recognize and embrace the special task it was peculiarly designed by history and providence to perform - Chinua Achebe.
Happy International Youth Day 2015

It is 2015. In 20 years time, 2035, majority of today's youths will be nearing their fifties. Life as we know it will be rounding off. The largest population age bracket is between 20 and 35 years old.

People say that what the passing generation gave today's youth is not sustainable. I agree yes. However, they gave according to the depth of their knowledge.

Today we know more and realize that active youth civic engagement is required for sustainable development.

We must rise up to the challenges of our time or leave even greater ruins for those to come after us.

The tools required to ensure faster development have been created. Electricity, the Internet, Social media. We cannot sit back and wait for someone else to do the job.

Now we must act and together we will overcome.

Happy International Youth Day 2015



Mac

YOUTH CIVIC ENGAGEMENT.

YOUTH CIVIC ENGAGEMENT.

We Need the Youths to determine the 202020 vision or the society will be a failed one......

-Iyere Ernest Ahamioje 2009

It Gives Me the Greatest Pleasure to be part of this year Youth Day Online Celebration under the platform of Generation Okowa Worldwide Foundation. This Foundation has recognized the essence and importance of tomorrow’s leaders in Today World. It is a great pleasure that Our Loving and Caring Governor has made out time for the youths of today to shape their tomorrows world. God Bless the Good work of H.E in Person of Dr Ifeanyi  Okowa.

The Oxford Dictionary defines Youth as "A time of life when a person is young, especially the time before a child becomes an adult". This Definition defines us all, Our Fathers, Grandfathers and Great Grand Fathers once passed through this stage.

In 1999, The United nations General assembly under it resolution 54/120 Endorsed the recommendation made by the world conference of ministers responsible for Youths to declare every August 12^th the International Youth Day (www.un.org/en/events/youthday/). The theme of this Year Youth Day is “YOUTH CIVIC ENGAGEMENT”.

Civic engagement involves “working to make a difference in the civic life of one’s community and developing the combination of knowledge, skills, values and motivation to make that difference. It means promoting the quality of life in a community, through both political and non-political processes” (Erlich, 2000).

One question that comes to my mind is how can we engage the Nigerian youth in Civic Engagement?

Preparing all youth for a successful transition to adulthood is both a key responsibility and an important investment for policymakers. Creating opportunities for young people to grow into thriving adults will increase the well-being of the next generation, and ultimately translate into savings for taxpayers.

When young people become disconnected, policymakers in every state are forced to deal with a range of costly consequences that both threaten individual futures and result in soaring public expenditures. Youth without opportunities or a connection to their communities may engage in negative behaviors including substance abuse, delinquency, risky sexual behavior and dropping out of high school. Alternatively, young people with a clear sense of identity, a positive sense of self-worth and opportunities to achieve are likely to be successful.

In Nigeria today, Youths are not typically conceived of as productive and constructive social actors, but rather as potential sources of political disruption, delinquency and criminality. Yet, pre-independence social and political movements were often led by young people who defined themselves as 'youth' to provide dynamic support to the leadership of the freedom and independence movements or in opposition to their elders who were supposedly content to be cronies of the colonial regimes. Some political parties were explicitly organized around youth. (Ahamioje, 2009).

Whilst youth has become a global issue, the situation of youth in Nigeria- characterized by embarrassingly high levels of unemployment and underemployment, exodus to other continents, involvement in violent political and social conflicts, etc. - is critical and requires strategic regional and National action.

Nigerian Youths needs re-orientation as a matter of urgency, the past ideals of amassing wealth through looting public funds and other vices must be seen as an evil of the past. We must become content as long as we have shelter, clothing, food, education and health care. Enough of unnecessary greed!

It will be biased of me to condemn the acts of our Youth generation without proffering solutions and see how today’s youth can be civic Engaged.

It is Important for our leaders , Now not to deprive our Youths and Encourage Youth Programs  that will promote Youth Civic Engagement vis a vis Youth Initiatives programs that will enlighten the youth. Such programs like;

ü  Promoting Youth Voters Registration

ü  Establishing Opportunity for Youth Participation in Politics where by a youth advisory council should be created to ensure that the voices of the youths are heard.

ü  Promote Diverse Forms of Youth Service because those youths that participate in a diverse service activities are more likely to become engaged in the community and are more likely to develop a long lasting sense of civic responsibility. This can be informing of Skilled and gain experience, while giving back to their communities. This gives a government the opportunity to provide for out of classroom learning.

ü  Promoting Policies to support Youth Engagement

On a final Note, I want to stress that Successful Youth Engagement Strategies requires that most youth have great and meaningful opportunities to work with each other within their communities thereby developing themselves and their ability to become an agent of change. Activities like discussion, Youth Empowerment, Women’s right, Public Enlightenment campaigns, Encouraging Sports, skilled and unskilled acquisition. The Knowledge that We as Youths gets from our surroundings helps to transform our Communities.

God Bless Our Youths, The Tomorrow Leaders, God Bless all the Youths Around the world, God bless Our Great State Delta State and finally God Bless Nigeria!!!

Thanks

Dr Ernest I Ahamioje(Phd, ABD)

Nigeria Youth Ambassador to the United Nations,

C.E.O of Positive Nigeria Inc,USA

Executive Director/Head of International Operations, Generation Okowa (USA, Canada, Et al).

References

1.      Ahamioje, E.I(2009).THE AFRICA CHALLENGE:A Message to the President addressed to the Nigerian Youths at the UNITED NATIONS

2.      Erlich, T. (2000). Civic responsibility and higher education. Westport, CT: Oryx Press -

3.      Flanagan, C., and Levine, P (2010). Civic Engagement and the Transition to Adulthood. The Future of Children.

4.      National Conference of State Legislatures (2006). Legis brief: Engaging Young People in Legislatures.

Website

5.      www.un.org/en/events/youthday/

6.      http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/us/definition/american_english/youth