By Kevin Okunzuwa
Nigerians across the globe had looked forward to President Bola Tinubu’s Oct. 1 national broadcast with renewed hope and expectations amidst the current socio-economic hardship in the country.
One of the fall outs of the broadcast to mark Nigeria’s 64th Independence anniversary was the announced planned convocation of national youth conference.
According to him, the conference will be a platform to address the diverse challenges and opportunities confronting young people, who he said constituted more than 60 per cent of our population.
Tinubu said the conference would provoke meaningful dialogue and empower our young people to participate actively in nation-building.
“By ensuring that their voices are heard in shaping the policies that impact their lives, we are creating a pathway for a brighter tomorrow.
“The 30-day confab will unite young people nationwide to collaboratively develop solutions.
“The government will thoroughly consider and implement the recommendations and outcomes from this forum as we remain resolute in our mission to build a more inclusive, prosperous, and united Nigeria”, the president said.
Expectedly, the announcement has elicited divergent opinions from critical stakeholders who x-rayed the niceties or otherwise of the planned youth confab.
While some respondents applauded the initiative, saying it was a welcome development, others, however, took a swipe at the initiative, and termed it as diversionary tactics from alleged governance.
Those against the planned confab say the president should instead implement the 2014 national confab resolutions than waste time, and resources on a conference they termed “jamboree” which outcome might not have any effect at all.
Commending the planned confab, the National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN), said it was in alignment with its hopes and aspirations where such conference would focus on addressing the critical challenges facing Nigerian youth.
The council however, warned against politicians’ plot to hijack the conference, just as it cautioned the federal government and the Ministry of Youth Development to ensure the initiative was not compromised.
According to Mr Sara-Igbe Sukubo, President, NYCN, the initiative marks a significant milestone in promoting youth engagement and empowerment within the country, highlighting the government’s acknowledgment of the essential role young people play in shaping Nigeria’s future.
Sukubo, in a statement, said the demand for a national youth conference had been a focal point for the group during various engagements, particularly during the #EndBadGovernance protests.
“A protest that underscored the frustrations, hopes, and aspirations of young Nigerians, revealing the urgent need for a structured platform where their voices could be heard,” he said.
He said after Tinubu’s announcement of the conference during the nationwide celebration of Nigeria’s 64th Independence on Oct.1, there was collective excitement among young people ahead of the gathering.
Stressing the significance of this conference, Sukubo said: “It offers Nigerian youth a vital opportunity to voice their grievances, propose actionable solutions, and actively participate in the governance process.
“The NYCN firmly believes that this gathering will empower young people to articulate their views on issues that directly affect their lives, fostering a sense of ownership and responsibility toward the policies that govern them.
“The NYCN warns against any attempts by the Federal Government to exploit this initiative for political purposes or divert it from its original intent.
Dr Sam Omateseye, a journalist who described the Tinubu’s speech as an historical rumination, hailed the planned national youth confab.
While saying that the confab would be a Republic of the young within a republic, he posited that their ideas would however, be meaningful to realising the desired national growth and development.
Another group, youths in Zaria, Kaduna State, described the initiative as unprecedented and very commendable.
According to the group, the plan also signifies that the President is greatly concerned about the plight of Nigerian youths.
The group also commemorated Nigeria’s 64th independence anniversary with a solidarity walk for President Tinubu’s achievements on national development.
The solidarity walk by a mammoth crowd of youth from different ethno-religious backgrounds commenced from the Babban Area in Zaria city to Polo Club in Sabon-Gari Local Government Area.
Convener of the group, Malam Muntaka Dabo, said the aim of the walk was to sensitise the youths and other Nigerians on patriotism.
Dabo said the group offered special prayers for the country towards enhancing sustainable peace and also commended the government’s efforts in addressing insecurity bedeviling some parts of the country.
Dabo added that there was need for Nigerians to support government efforts in tackling insecurity and several youth empowerment initiatives.
He said the president’s announcement of plan to convene a national youth conference was commendable, adding that it would be a gathering meant to address the yearnings and aspirations of the Nigerian youths.
“This is unprecedented and very commendable, because it signifies that the President is greatly concerned about the plight of Nigerian Youths,’’ Dabo said.
He, therefore, appealed for increased investment in youth empowerment initiatives and skills acquisition programmes to reduce the high unemployment rate among the youths.
Similarly, the Nigeria Ethnic Nationalities Youth Leaders Council Worldwide (NENYLCW), also described the President’s planned Confab as phenomenal.
The group, in a by its President General, Comrade Terry Obieh, Vice-President, Mr Balarabe Rufai and the National Publicity Secretary, Mazi Okwu Nnabuike, said “Mr President’s decision was another clear indication that he meant well for Nigeria.
The group, which recalled its earlier request for a national dialogue involving youths from the various ethnic nationalities in the country, said “we are glad that Mr President made this announcement himself, a clear indication that the government takes it very seriously.
“We salute the President for his resilience to chart a good way for the country,” the group leadership said.
“During the August protest, we insisted that dialogue was the way to go and not hitting the streets. We are glad that Mr President has opened a further window of dialogue with the youths.
“As we appreciate him for this decision, we appeal that the confab should not be politicised but put in place in such a way that the intended outcome would be achieved.
“On our part, we assure Mr President that we shall continue to support his government which we are certain means well for the country,” they added.
Also, Prof. Itse Sagay (SAN), human rights lawyer and former head of the Presidential Advisory Committee against Corruption, hailed the planned national youth conference.
Sagay said: “If the federal government will convene a youth conference, then let the youths make recommendations. They are the ones whose future is at stake right now.
“It is a good idea and hearing from youths directly will be very wonderful. They are the future of Nigeria.
“It will not just be to hear the youths speak, efforts should be made to take some of the issues they will raise because it is about them and their future as future leaders.
“Such issues should be looked at holistically and should be adopted and implemented as well.
“Just having a youth confab and hearing their views are not enough.Their issues and concerns should be addressed in such confab by taking issues raised, adopting them and then using them,” he said.
But not all stakeholders are thrilled by Tinubu’s planned conference.
One of them is the Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA).
The body described the planned confab as a wasteful and ineffective exercise designed to deflect attention from the government’s failures.
In a statement signed by its National Coordinator, Mr Emmanuel Onwubiko, HURIWA condemned the conference as a superficial attempt to engage with the youth while ignoring the pressing issues confronting Nigeria’s young population.
According to the group, the proposed conference, is a futile gambit aimed at projecting an image of youth inclusion when in reality, the government has failed to tackle the critical issues hindering the progress of Nigerian youths.
The association referred to the conference as “forum shopping,” intended to mask the government’s shortcomings.
“This so-called National Youth Conference is nothing more than a cash-guzzling charade, destined to achieve little to no meaningful outcomes,” HURIWA said.
Expressing similar view, the Middle Belt Forum (MBF) ejected the proposal in it entity and urged the president to implement 2014 national confab resolutions.
The socio-cultural and political organisation which spoke through its National Publicity Secretary, Dr Isuwa Dogo, asked: “If you bring all the youths from across the country, will it bring about employment?
“What we need is not the convocation of the National Youth Conference that won’t bring employment. It won’t remove insecurity it won’t remove all the calamities that we’re facing.
“In the first place we already know the solution to all the problems it’s implementing the solutions and not finding the solutions.
“Implementing the 2014 National Confab is the way to go. Whatever is left after that we’ll find a solution to.
“They shouldn’t go on wasting our resources to bring youths from across the country to just sit down and do nothing.
“Didn’t the president set up a committee of about 800 people, and an economic team? Have they come out with one single solution to the Nigeria problems?” he asked rhetorically.
For Dr Adetokunbo Pearse, Public Affairs Analyst, the president’s announcement of a national youth conference “is arguably the most disingenuous and irresponsible proposal from him to date.
“A dialogue that would take place for a whole month will destroy its purpose ab initio. If the young person taking part is a student, he or she would miss class for a whole month.
“If the youth delegate is employed, he would miss work for 30 days, and if he is seeking employment, he would miss his opportunity to find work.
“The president’s purpose , it seems, is to host a carnival during which time he would politicise the programme; recruit the young people for his 2027 campaign and provide them with financial incentives,” he said.
Also, Lagos-based human rights lawyer, Mr Kabir Akingbolu, said the President’s proposal “is not anything too different or radically different from what it used to be or what we used to have.
“Enough of all these theoretical policies that cannot transform to practical reality or practical development,” he advised.
However, after the subtle and brickbats, Bishop Godfrey Onah of the Diocese of Nsukka, Enugu, counsel seems to be the needed soothing balm Nigerians need just now.
Onah at a function in Abuja, said: “Nigerians should know that Nigeria is in the hand of Nigerians, only Nigerians can solve the problem of Nigerian, and the worst thing we can do is to give up hope on Nigeria.
“It is a project that we must all get involved in; we should not let anybody to intimidate us or cower us to submission.
“We are all Nigerians, and collectively, we can salvage this country but that is if each one of us, and I challenge everyone, each one of us, starts taking seriously his assignment as a Nigerian.
“Let everyone asks himself or herself, what can I do to make things better for others rather than always blaming others?” he said.
One fundamental take away from arguments from both sides, seems to be that Nigerian youths, who make up the majority of the country’s estimated 200 million population, deserve better living conditions.
They are strategic to the nation’s path to growth and development. Any initiative, including the proposed conference that will deliver on their wellbeing, should be supported by every Nigerian both as individuals and corporate entities. (NANFeatures)
