Conscience For Human Rights And Conflict Resolution, (CHRCR), has stressed the need for the Kogi State Youth Commission to create a 5 -year strategic Development Plan to mobilize needed resources for intervening for youth participation in leadership through relevant stakeholders
This was part of the Communique issued at the end of the 1-day Summit on inspiring youth for leadership, organized by Conscience for Human Rights and Conflict Resolution, (CHRCR), in partnership with the Nigerian Women Trust Fund (NWTF), held on 26th October 2023 At Halims Hotel Lokoja.
Participants also called on the the Kogi State Government to as a matter of urgency, create and provide adequate funding through the State Budget, for the Youth Commission, so as to enhance their delivery of their mandate according to the establishment of their law, adding that Young Women need particular attention as they are more vulnerable to the challenges more than any other person.
They maintained that Political parties must begin to re-energize their ideology towards youth participation and inclusion so as to enhance their potentials, saying there is need for an effective Mentoring scheme targeting young people for Leadership especially in politics
The communiqué which was signed by Idris Miliki Abdul, Executive Director, CHRCR, Lokoja, Kogi State added that “constitutional Amendments to align the age of voting and age to be voted for is necessary to improve the participation of young persons in politics
“The huge population of young persons must be strategically used to the advantage of Kogi State and Nigeria in terms of political leadership
“The cost of campaigns and elections must be reduced to allow for young persons to effectively participate in political leadership
“The fight against corruption and insecurity must be holistic to provide a conducive platform for youth to effectively take part in leadership.
THE COMMUNIQUE IN FULL
Communique Issued At The End Of The 1-day Summit On Inspiring Youth For Leadership Organized By Conscience For Human Rights And Conflict Resolution (CHRCR) In Partnership With The Nigerian Women Trust Fund (Nwtf) Held On 26th October 2023 At Halims Hotel Lokoja
PREAMBLE:
The 1-day Summit was organized by the Conscience for Human Rights and Conflict Resolution (CHRCR), in partnership with The Nigerian Women trust Fund (NWTF), to raise awareness, identify challenges and proffer way forward for participation of young persons in Kogi State.
The Summit had in attendance Management of Kogi State Youth commission, Youths from Civil Society, Youth Associations, Professional organizations, Young Women Associations, and Media.
There was Paper Presentations on Inspiring Youth for Leadership by Idris Miliki Abdul, Executive Director, CHRCR and Challenges of Youth in Attaining Leadership Positions and the Way Forward by Hamza Aliyu, Executive Director, INGRA
There was also Plenary Discussions, Question and Answer Sessions and Communique Development and Dissemination.
Observations:
The participation of Youths in political leadership in Kogi State is low despite the numerical strength in terms of Voter registration and PVC collected.
The establishment of the Youth Development Commission, by the present Administration in Kogi State, the first in the North, is a welcome development
Despite the importance of the commission, there is no budgetary provision for the taking off of the commission since inception.
Young women are especially excluded by Social and Structural challenges in Youth participations in political leadership
Young people have limited resources and experiences in attaining leadership positions, particularly at state level.
There has been low/inadequate Government focus on building the capacity of Youth for leadership
Culture and tradition have overbearing influence on youth in leadership at state level particularly in Kogi State
There is minimal focus by political parties to improving the situation of Youth participation towards leadership positions.
Youths make up over 35% of the voting population in Nigeria with over 37 million registered voters who are between 18-34 years according to the Independent Electoral Commission (INEC) records.
Cost of elections and politics generally is too high that prevents young persons from participation, depriving them from realizing their leadership ambitions.
The 1999 Constitution as Amended, and the 2022 Electoral Act, stipulates 18 years as the age of Voting. However, the least age for being voted for is 25 years (for State and federal legislature). This is discriminatory and a hindrance to the Nigerian youths attaining leadership positions.
Corruption and Insecurity is a major factor in preventing Young persons from participating in the electoral process
- The National Education curriculum does not provide adequate capacity for leadership for young persons.
There no or limited mentoring of young persons by those who have attained leadership positions to provide succession, particularly by young persons.
It is highly worrisome and not encouraging, that there are no young persons among the contestants for the position of Governor among the Candidates participating in the November 11th 2023 elections in Kogi State.
Recommendations:
The Kogi State Youth Commission needs to create a 5 -year strategic Development Plan to mobilize needed resources for intervening for youth participation in leadership through relevant stakeholders
The Kogi State Government must as a matter of urgency, create and provide adequate funding through the State Budget, for the Youth Commission, so as to enhance their delivery of their mandate according to the establishment of their law
Young Women need particular attention as they are more vulnerable to the challenges more than any other person.
Political parties must begin to re-energize their ideology towards youth participation and inclusion so as to enhance their potentials.
There is need for an effective Mentoring scheme targeting young people for Leadership especially in politics
Constitutional Amendments to align the age of voting and age to be voted for is necessary to improve the participation of young persons in politics
The huge population of young persons must be strategically used to the advantage of Kogi State and Nigeria in terms of political leadership
The cost of campaigns and elections must be reduced to allow for young persons to effectively participate in political leadership
The fight against corruption and insecurity must be holistic to provide a conducive platform for youth to effectively take part in leadership.
CONCLUSION:
The summit thank Conscience for Human Rights and Conflict Resolution (CHRCR), the Nigeria Women trust Fund (NWTF) and the MacArthur Foundation for their continued support and partnership in the improvement of Youts issues at state level in Kogi State.
Idris Miliki Abdul
Executive Director, CHRCR, Lokoja, Kogi State