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The Federal Government has commenced mapping exercises on the implementation of Nigeria National Action on Youth, Peace and Security (NNAP-YPS).
Mr Sunday Dare, Minister of Sport and Youth Development, stated this on Friday in Ibadan at a 2-day workshop and mapping exercise on the implementation of NNAP-YPS.
The workshop was organised by the Ministry for Youth and Sports Development in collaboration with
Nigerian Coalition on Youth, Peace and Security (NCYPS).
NAN recalls that the United Nations Security Council Resolutions 2250 on Youth, Peace and Security was unanimously adopted by the UN General Assembly in December, 2015, in New York.
Dare, who was represented by Mr Adedoyin Oyekan, a Director in the ministry, said that the Federal Government has engaged stakeholders to develop and launch the NNAP-YPS.
He said that the NNAP-YPS (2021-2024) which was developed to reflect and build on the five pillars of the UNSCR 2250 was now in its pilot phase of implementation.
The minister listed Adamawa, Delta, Kaduna, Plateau and Oyo states and Abuja as the six pilot states chosen to measure impact as well as collect data that would guide scaling full implementation to other states.
“We are here today to create awareness on the NNAP-YPS document and to map the stakeholders needed to be engaged to implement the NNAP-YPS in Oyo State.
“We are hopeful that the implementation of NNAP-YPS will open positive and sustainable opportunities for young people, including the space to express their talents, while contributing to lasting peace and development in Nigeria.”
Dare said that the programme was aimed at giving opportunities to the youth to express their talents and creativities leading to lasting peace and development of the state and nation.
Mr Seun Fakorede, the State Commissioner for Youths and Sports, said that the youth of any nation were the pillars on which the greatness and economic advancement of that nation is built.
Fakorede, who was represented by Alhaja Aerat Adegbola, the Executive Secretary, Oyo State Agency for Youth Development, appreciated the Federal Government for selecting Oyo state as one of the pilot states.
“Any nation that fails to adequately plan and nurture her youth does so at its own peril,” he said.
He said that youths needed to be guided and monitored to forestall derailment, especially at this period when Nigeria is facing lots of peace and security problems.
Also, Mr Theophilus Ekpon, the NCYPS Co-Chair, explained that the dissemination exercise would follow the workshop in October to reach more stakeholders, work with the media and commence domestication in the state.
Ekpo said that every state was required to develop an action plan on Youth, Peace and Security, adding that it would create more opportunities for the youths.
“We want to build capacity of youths, civil societies, security agencies, law enforcement agencies, judiciary, legislature, government agencies, religion and traditional leaders on YPS.
“We want to build their capacity on YPS, human rights, rule of law and justice for all.
“We also want to support young people with small grants. We want to support youth organisations especially those at the community level to implement their plan, activities and innovations,” he said.
Recalls that another outcome of the launch of the UNSCR 2250 in Nigeria and the subsequent 2017 National Consultative Conference on YPS was the call by stakeholders to develop a NNAP-YPS.
Thereafter, the NNAP-YPS was subjected to an affirmation meeting on Aug. 27, 2021, and later launched on Nov. 1, 2021, by the Federal Government. (NAN)