Sokoto State: National Orientation Agency sensitizes Youths on Self-Reliance

The National Orientation Agency (NOA) has engaged Tertiary students, Youth members under its attitudinal re-orientation programme tagged; “Campus Focus” to sensitize them on how to be self-reliant.

The state Director NOA, Mode Danchadi, said the exercise was part of the activity of the National Youth Summit 2021 organised by the agency in Sokoto State.

According to Danchadi, the summit which has as it theme: “Youth participation in National Development,” is apt considering the raising issues concerning youth in the country.

He added that the objective of the summit was to engage Nigerian youth on government policies and Programmes and other activities in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“This was aimed at educating youth on various Social Investment Programmes of government design for their empowerment and how to key into these Programmes for their benefits.

“It is also to analyze issues raised by Nigerian Youth, provide credible feedback and build confidence on them on the ability and commitments of government to address their challenges.

“The program will as well re–awakening the consciousness of Nigerian youth on the need to embrace national core values and ethics as well as seek for resolution for their grievances through dialogue and other means,” Danchadi said.

He explained that it was important to note that the growing youth bulge in Nigeria was of serious concern to the government.

“These facts clearly indicate that the government can no longer ignore the demands of young people and therefore raises the need for a different approach of productivity and national development.

“The peaceful protest by Nigerian youths against the Special Anti Robbery Squard (SARS) has raised a number of issues worthy of consideration.

“That is why the government most now engage and dialogue with the youth on a sustainable basis, which also ensuring that it is proactive in dealing with the challenges confronting them,” NOA Director added.

The State Commissioner for Higher Education, Professor Bashir Garba, commended the Federal government for coming up with programmes that have a direct impact on youth development in the country.

The Commissioner represented by the Director Quality Assurance in the Ministry, Muhammad Bawa, advised Nigerian youth to desist from any form of social vices to ensure the best future generation.

Professor Garba also use the opportunity and called on the youths to engage in one entrepreneur profession or the other to become self-reliant.

Also speaking, the Special Adviser to Sokoto State Governor on Social Investment, Hayatu Tafida, expressed confidence that the Social Investment Programme of the government will continue to yield positive results on Nigerian youth.

Tafida urged the youths to utilize opportunities and reduce total dependence on government white collar jobs.

He added that Sokoto State under the leadership of Governor Aminu Waziri Tambuwal introduced various intervention Programmes that impacted positively to lives of youth in the state.

“Sokoto State Governor under the Social Investment Programmes has distributed #20,000 thousand to 1,000 vulnerable across 23 LGAs to reduce and alleviate suffering among Women and vulnerable,” Tafida explained.

The Special Adviser urged the youths to always remain within their limit and be law-abiding citizens for sustainable development.

Two papers were presented at the event titled; “The impact of Youth participation and involvement in policymaking and Governance” by Malam Nura Attajiri, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Greenlight Center for Youth and Social Services.

The Second paper titled: “Insecurity and the Nigerian Youth: the way forward” was presented by Mainasara Maru from the Police Command in Sokoto State.

PIAK