COMMUNIQUE ISSUED AT THE 1-DAY TOWNHALL MEETING AT COMMUNITY LEVEL ON INSPIRING YOUTH FOR LEADERSHIP FOR KOGI EAST SENATORIAL DISTRICT ORGANIZED BY THE CONSCIENCE FOR HUMAN RIGHTS AND CONFLICT RESOLUTION (CHRCR) AT WISDOM HOTEL , AIYIGBA, DEKINA LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA ON FRIDAY 26TH JANUARY 2024 IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE NIGERIAN WOMEN TRUST FUND WITH THE SUPPORT OF MACAUTHUR FOUNDATION.
The 1-Day town-hall meeting is in furtherance of the senatorial engagement on Youth in leadership campaign at State level in Kogi State.
In attendance were leaders from Youth groups, Women groups, Student from Kogi State University Anyigba, and Media practitioners.
The activities included presentations and sessions on:
– Inspiring Youths for Leadership by Executive Director, Conscience for Human Rights and Conflict Resolution (CHRCR) Idris Miliki Abdul,
– Challenges of Youth in Attaining Leadership position and the way forward by Executive Director, Initiative for Grassroots Advancement in Nigeria (INGRA), Hamza Aliyu,
– Plenary session,
– Questions and Contributions
– Communique development and dissemination.
*OBSERVATIONS:*
– There is limited knowledge and understanding of leadership processes by Young persons
– That despite 18 years being the age of voting by the Nigerian Constitution, the age to contest elective positions in Nigeria is 25 years. This is discriminatory
– There was noticeable youth apathy during the last 11th November 2023 Governorship elections due to several factors including lack of confidence in the system, non-availability of Permanent Voters Cards
– The 11th November 2023 Governorship elections was generally peaceful in Kogi East Senatorial District
– The awareness on constitutional instruments and guidelines on elections, such as The 1999 Constitution, The Electoral Act 2022, INEC Guidelines, etc, is low among young persons
– The *“JAPA”* syndrome is a reflection of the lack of confidence in the system of leadership and governance in Nigeria by young persons
– Vote Buying and Selling was observed by participants during the Governorship elections
– Young person’s make up a large portion of registered voters in Nigeria but this advantage has not translated to elective positions for the youths
– There is concerted efforts by the present administration in Kogi State to involve young persons in leadership through appointments but there is little efforts at towards improving elective position for youth. There is evident in the recent unconstitutional imposition of Caretakership at Local Government levels.
– There is low level of mentorship for young persons at state level in Kogi state
– The act of voting, especially for young persons, is a crucial role in participation in leadership at community level
– Engagement of young persons with political office contestants during elections is mostly limited to tokenism and thuggery
– Vote buying reduces young persons to commodities during elections
– Leadership and governance are two concepts that are mostly not understood by young persons and other stakeholders
– Economic empowerment of young persons is key for leadership
*- It is noticed that youths are a contributing to the insecurity through their engagement in violent extremism leading to terrorism*
*RECOMMENDATIONS:*
The meeting made the following recommendations:
– The Government through the National Orientation Agency (NOA), Ministry of Information, Kogi State Youth Development Commission, etc, must build knowledge and improve awareness of young persons on leadership and its various processes.
– The in-coming Government in Kogi State to as a matter of urgency put machinery in place to conduct Local Government elections as soon as possible in line with the provisions of the 1999 Constitution as Amended that will encourage youth participation in leadership at that level
– Young persons must make efforts to build their self-knowledge and motivation on the process for leadership
– The constitutional requirement on the age of contest must be amended to remove the Constitutional challenge to young person’s involvement in in elections leading to good governance
– Citizens must desist from participating in vote buying and selling as it disenfranchises them of their right to select those who should lead them and affects development and good governance and it is also a criminal offence
– The concept of mentorship for young persons in leadership must be taken seriously by both State and Non State Actors
– There must be a conscious effort at youth empowerment by government and other stakeholders to encourage youths towards leadership positions
*- There is need to positively engage young persons in the counter terrorism efforts of government at both national and sub national levels.*
The Town-hall meeting commended the Conscience for Human Rights and Conflict Resolution (CHRCR) for its untiring efforts at improving youth involvement in leadership at state level in Kogi State.
They also appreciated the collaboration of The Nigeria Women Trust Fund and the continuous support of MacArthur Foundation.
Sign:
*
IDRIS MILIKI ABDUL
Executive Director_
Conscience for Human Rights and Conflict Resolution (CHRCR)
Lokoja, Kogi State