Participants in group picture at the occasion.
By Correspondent in Minna.
A Minna-based NGO in Niger State, Regional Centre of Expertise (RCE), under its flagship programme, ‘The Sustainable Initiative for Responsible Adulthood’ (TSIRA) says it has commenced interface with youths on how to end all forms of youths restiveness in the state, North Central Nigeria.
The RCE coordinator, Minna, Dr. Abdul Hussaini, disclosed this when he spoke on the menace over the weekend during an interface with some youths in Minna.
According to him, with TSIRA fully, rooted in the state, Minna metropolis in particular, issues relating to cult rival, gangsters, thugs popularly referred to as ‘Yan Daba’ and related vices involving youths would be a thing of the past.
Abdul said that no meaningful development could take place in a society where the youths,as future leaders, were not properly guided on how to make good use of their talents but engage in all manner of hostilities resulting in loss of lives and destruction property worth millions of naira.
“It is regrettable that some flash points within Minna metropolis are being designated as den of ‘bad boys’ indulging in acts of thuggery, gangsterism and cult clashes,thus giving the state, Minna in particular a very bad name,hence it must be checked,”the coordinator said
Abdul said he decided to organise an interface with some of the youth, adding that through them, spread the good news of exploring better options to handle whatever issue bothering them, in order to avoid such clashes,especially in the build up to the 2023 general elections.
“Peace and peaceful co-existence must be guaranteed in Niger state, Minna metropolis in particular which reflects a miniature Nigeria,its heterogeneity and diverse cultural and tribal values which must not be undermined by any group under whatsoever guise,” he added.
Abdul, however, regretted that despite efforts by the state government and security agencies to curb the menace, through arrests and detention, the problem persisted.
He disclosed that more than five people had so lost their lives within Limawa, Maitumbi and Unguwan Daji areas with several pockets of thuggery and unrest in some other parts of the metropolis.
“It is in realization of this challenge that RCE Minna conceived the idea of TSIRA, which literally means ‘survival’ in Hausa language, to serve as ‘Social Clinic’ through In-depth Focus Discussion (IFD) for youths involved in restiveness to understand their perspectives and the psychology pushing them to carry out such unwanted acts,” he explained.
According to Abdul,10 youths were selected for the pilot scheme from areas that are prone to acts of; thuggery, cult clashes and gangsterism among the various tribes and communities within Minna the state capital and its environs.
He recalled the good memories of how Minna metropolis used to be the home to all, irrespective of tribal and religious inclinations, adding that it used to be fun enjoying peaceful atmosphere.
The coordinator added that that it was in the overall objective of the TSIRA Initiative to restore the good old days and foster peaceful coexistence within communities in Minna to curb youth restiveness, through social cohesion, skills training and sustainable empowerment.
Also speaking, the Chairman of RCE Minna Board of Research, Prof. Godwin N. Nsofor, said the responses got from the participants was a ray of hope that the aim of building bridges of friendship among the youth groups in the state would be achieved, adding that he was particularly happy that they had agreed to turn a new leaf.
Prof. Nsofor promised to ensure that the RCE Minna extends the scope of the programme by collaborating with some relevant organizations and as well recruit more youths involved in the unwanted acts and engage them meaningfully to serve as vanguards to ending youth restiveness in Minna and its environs.
Our Correspondent reports that some of the speakers at the interactive session, including Malam Nurudeen Lemu, Mall. Yabagi Alfa, Dr. Francis Gana and the Permanent Secretary of the state Ministry of Youths and Sports development, Dr. Wasa commended RCE Minna for the initiative.
They expressed optimism that the success achieved in the exercise would work with the way the participants opened up.
Edited by Dada Ahmed.
