The Ministry of Youth Development in Nigeria has promised to engage the relevant youth bodies in any decision-making process that concerns them.
The Minister of Youth Development, Dr. Jamila Bio-Ibrahim made the promise when she played host to the leadership of the National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN) in Abuja, the nation’s capital.
This is contained in a statement by the Head of Press and Public Relations Unit of the Ministry of Youth Development, Maryam Yusuf and made available to journalists.
While addressing the team, Dr Bio-Ibrahim, who lamented that the meeting was long overdue, attributed the delay to her desire to adequately make preparations to attend to their demands.
She emphasized the preparedness of the Ministry to ensure that its engagement with the youth yields meaningful results.
“The Ministry is very mindful not to sell the message of falsehood to the youth as the trust between government and the young people has long been broken,” she said.
The Honourable Minister also reiterated that the Ministry had made plans to take proactive measures to ensure that trust is built and building that trust must on the foundation of sincerity and transparency.
The Minister assured them that she would not betray the confidence that the President reposed on her through her appointment as Minister of Youth.
“Mr. President has not made a mistake by appointing me, I assure you that I came prepared, I understand the challenges confronting the youth because I am one of you,” she said.
Dr Bio-Ibrahim stressed the need for the Ministry to be adequately funded as it is currently short of funds.
She explained that the Ministry was in need of extra budgetary funding, adding that she has started working in that direction since her assumption of office.
While speaking on the review of the National Youth Policy Committee, she said “the list of its membership is undergoing some adjustments which will include sixty per cent for the youths and forty per cent for the older generation, as the youth can not do it alone.”
Speaking on the National Youth Investment Fund, Dr. Bio-Ibrahim said that disbursement has presently been put on hold at her behest so as to study the entire scheme and probably make some input before continuing.
Earlier in his speech, the President, National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN), Ambassador. Sukubo Sukubo disclosed that the purpose of their visit was to draw the Minister’s attention to their grievances, with the ministry being the apex body of all the youths in Nigeria.
Sukubo noted that despite their mandates as the apex body, the desired recognition have not been accorded them even though they were the ones who fought for the creation of Youth Ministry, which led to the demerger of former Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports Development.
According to the president, the council wants the Ministry to carry them along when drafting the Ministry’s budget, and there should be adequate flow of information between them and the Ministry, as well as getting them fully involved in the implementation of programmes.
In her welcome address, the Director, Network and Social Mobilisation Department of the Ministry, Amina Daura, recounted the history of the council stating that the National Youth Council of Nigeria is an umbrella body that represents the interest and aspirations of Nigerian youths at both national and international levels.
She further said that it was founded in 1964 as a platform for youth engagement, empowerment, and participation in governance, with core principles of promoting peace, unity and ensuring that the voices of young people are heard in matters affecting them and the nation at large.
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