By Goodluck Ikiebe
The Nigerian Government,in collaboration with relevant stakeholders, says it will step up awareness creation to enable youths in the country make informed decision on food choices in line with the increasing global education on the healthiest and most sustainable options for both individuals and the environment.
The Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Mr. Sunday Akin Dare, disclosed this on Friday in Abuja at the commemoration of the 2021 International Youth Day Celebration (IYD).
He said, “Government will create the enabling environment and inclusive support mechanisms to ensure that youths continue to amplify efforts, collectively and individually, to restore the planet and protect life, while integrating biodiversity in the transformation of food systems in line with the objectives of this year’s celebration”.
Dare expressed delight that Nigerian Youths joined their counterparts across the world to mark the 2021 Day Celebration.
He explained that President Muhammadu Buhari-led Administration recognised the fact that, youths hold a crucial role in the socio-economic development of the country,” especially as we work towards the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals and related frameworks.”
Dare added that, Recent global priorities have centered on fighting the impacts of climate change, unemployment, poverty, gender inequality, conflict, and migration.
“Many nations including our country Nigeria, have witnessed young people’s unprecedented mobilization around the world, which has shown the massive power they possess to hold decision-makers accountable.” Dare added.
He noted that the Day constitutes part of the United Nation’s broader World Programme of Action for Youth (WPAY), an initiative targeted at promoting the general wellbeing and livelihood of young people with priority focused on education, employment, poverty and hunger.
He said that others were environment, drug abuse, juvenile delinquency, leisure-time activities, health, girls and women, HIV/AIDS, Information and Communication Technology, Inter-generational issues, armed conflict, the mixed impact of globalization, and the full and effective participation of the youth in socio-economic development and in decision making process.
The Sports Minister stated that the theme for this year’s celebration: “Transforming Food Systems: Youth Innovation for Human and Planetary Health”, sought to highlight the urgency of transforming food systems, particularly in the wake of a global pandemic, stressing that it also identified youth engagement as a key factor to the transformation of food systems.
This, according to him, is in realization of the fact that success of such a global effort might not be achieved without the meaningful involvement and participation of young people.
Dare said that it was in line with this objective that the present administration, through the Federal Ministry of Sports and Youth Development, “is presently training close to 5,000 Nigerian Youths across the six geopolitical zones of the country in critical areas of green stimulus, digital skills, AI and Robotics as well as in clean and renewable energy.”
Earlier, the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports Development, Mr. Nebeolisa Anako, said that, “youth involvement in every sphere of our national development plan, would not only increase investment but also promote ownership and sustainability of change interventions.
According to him, the move would also strengthen the youth abilities to meet their needs toward fulfilling dreams and aspirations.
Also speaking, the UNFPA Resident Representative to Nigeria, Ms. Ulla Elisabeth Mueller, emphasized that, youths had the power to make the change and difference the world required, especially in the area of health and socio-economic development.
Our Correspondent reports that Goodwill messages were delivered by representatives of Ministers of FCT, Women Affairs, Humanitarian and Social Development, Labour and Productivity, Agriculture, Health as well as Directors-General of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), among others.
