By Ebi Nieketien/Amayindi Yakubu
You might be wondering why the United Nations decided to adopt “Local Youth Actions for the SDGs and Beyond” as the theme for this year’s International Youth Day celebration.
With climate change, extreme poverty, low access to education, an inflating rise in unemployment among youths, dilapidating infrastructure, decaying health systems, extinction of wildlife, a continuing global humanitarian crisis, a decline in funding for development across the world, and many other global issues, the need for youths to take charge of their divine destinies to engage in initiatives that solve this problem becomes more than necessary; it demands urgency.
The Pointer Newspaper, beyond ideals, shares solutions from the perspectives of stakeholders, seasoned bureaucrats, youth leaders, and Sustainable Youth Advocates from Delta State and across Nigeria.
His Excellency, Rt. Hon. Elder Sheriff Oborevwori, the Executive Governor of Delta State, addressing youths during the commemoration of the International Youth Day at the Government House in Asaba, affirmed the need for youth to champion actions on SDGs in the state with his rhetoric’s saying “This theme speaks directly to our vision as a state for a prosperous and inclusive Delta State. The Sustainable Development Goals, SDGs, cannot be achieved without the creativity, the energy and the leadership of the young people. You are not just the leaders of tomorrow; you are the change makers of today. The SDGs call us to end poverty, promote quality education, advance gender equality, take climate action and build inclusive growth.”
Enumerating the achievements of his administration MORE Agenda in youth development, Oborevwori added that “In addition, the state government’s Information Technology and Youth Empowerment Programme, ICTF, provides three learning tracks, Startup Academy, ICT for self-employment, and digital media skills. And so far in our administration, over 300 youths across the 25 local government areas have been trained in key ICT fields, including coding, cybersecurity, and AI, artificial intelligence. These trainees have also been supported with tools and entrepreneurship resources to help them succeed.”
Speaking to young Deltans, he said “let us rise, act, and achieve the Sustainable Development Goals for Delta and for Nigeria and for the whole world.”
Similarly, the Delta State Head of Service, Dr. Minimin Oseji, speaking at the same event, built on the ideas the governor communicated by emphasizing that “The theme of International Youth Day, I will say, is apt because right now we need our young people to be very focused on what can take them to the next level. A lot of young people are frustrated. They go to school for so many years, come out, and there are no jobs. Even when you get a job, it cannot meet your needs. But right now, I want to encourage every young person who may not have anything to do. You must not be hideous. Everybody says you must not be hideous. While you are waiting for that dream job, you can participate in volunteer work.”
She further advocates that the youth get involved in local actions, saying that “Volunteer work gives you a lot of experience, builds your confidence, helps you network, and gives you an opportunity to develop a work ethic, and you can actually put it down as work experience such that when you are now going for that dream job, you can say, ‘I have been working even though I have to volunteer on-page for one year or two years in this establishment.’ You should consider having part-time jobs.”
Reiterating on responsibility, Dr Oseji said, “Here in Africa, in Nigeria, we try to support our young people.But overseas, from 15, 16, you’re already working in McDonald’s, and so on, to pay for your incidentals; your parents will just handle your tuition. So, if you’ve never worked before and you’ve not been holding your certificate or waiting, please, you can consider part-time jobs. I’m sure there are a lot of young people who use their part-time jobs to even fund their education so that there will not be a burden on their parents.”
In his message to youths, the state Commissioner for Youth Development, Barr. ThankGod Trakiriowei, revealed why the event was important for the youths and the state, saying, “This year’s celebration is particularly significant to us in Delta State, not only because of the vibrancy of our youth population, but also because of the collective stride we are taking to ensure that the energy, talent, and creativity of our young people align with the global vision of sustainable development.”
He unveiled local actions under his leadership, saying, “At this Ministry of Youth, we have keyed into this vision by deliberately creating platforms that improve youth outcomes in line with global standards, from the Rural Youth Skills Acquisition Programme, RISA, which continues to empower thousands of young Deltans with relevant skills, to our Leadership and Mentorship Clinic designed to groom youth leadership across the state, our focus remains on building generations that are not only innovative and entrepreneurial but also globally competitive. As we celebrate the 325th International Youth Day, I wish to challenge every Deltan youth to continue to play their role as vanguards of development.”
Our action, no matter how local, contributes significantly to the realisation of global goals. Let’s continue to work together to shape the future of our state and our world.” Added Barr. Thank God.
The Special Assistant to the Delta State Governor on youth development, Ambassador Michael Odogwu, rattled our theology of SDG attainment with his thoughts.
When asked how youths can navigate the SDGs to bring about change and development in Delta State and across Nigeria, he said;“What we’re saying to young people is, it’s time for them to become more active and stop waiting for the government. The government won’t be able to do all for them. Now they can begin to create opportunities through technology, volunteering, and rendering services in their communities and make a difference.
‘’That’s why it’s called local actions in your place, in your community, as a young person. What are you doing to make a difference? So, there are various ways young people, persons, can tap into this, harness their potential, and also make the Sustainable Development Goals a reality in their various places.”
Speaking about the speeding up the 2030 deadline set by the United Nations for the attainment of the SDGs, Odogwu said;“First of all, and very importantly, I feel it’s not the deadline. I don’t like calling it a deadline. It’s a transition; I prefer to call it that way. So, between now and 2030, we hope to have seen the impact in Africa.
“In Nigeria, we have a lot of talented young people and whenever they say the young people don’t have potential, I disagree. But I just feel that they need to start showing what they’re made of and bring it out to the world. Also very important, learn how to sell themselves. That’s a problem that most young people are having.”
Also sharing her thoughts, a spoken word artist and Delta State Female Ambassador on SDGs, Peace Eriberuche, told The Pointer what the celebration meant to her.
As a youth leader, what is the essence of International Youth Day to you?
“Let’s use the theme as a reference. So, they said, for local actions, the youth should have local actions towards the SDGs. So, it’s more like a motivation and inspiration to youth that you don’t have to wait for your leaders. You can’t be waiting for the government to push sustainable development goals.
‘’Sustainable development goals are goals that we see every day, in what we do every day. Education, a child getting admission to school, climate actions, you have protected the waters, gender equality, and so many more. So instead of waiting for the government to start up everything, you, as a youth, can actually start in your little space.‘’
When you give a child education, a pen, a pencil, and a notebook, that is already SDGs; you are already assisting and helping the SDGs. When you go around trying to pick up waste to recycle, that is already a local way, local actions of trying to assist in gaining for the SDGs”
Speaking on the deadline for the actualizing the SDGs goals, she said, if everyone decides to run with a particular goal, it could speed up the process.
According to her, “in Delta State, we have a very youth-friendly governor. Someone who understands the meaning of sustainable development goals and is working towards them.
‘’You can see the Commissioner for Environment has projects on recycling waste and all of that. So, by God’s grace, this is 2025, and we have five years. That’s why we are having programmes to enlighten the youth so they can also take local actions, because leaving it for the government alone is definitely going to spill.
“But when each and every one of us decides to take on one SDG goal, we have 17 of them. If each person decides to take on one, we are a lot; we are a lot of youth. Definitely, I think we can meet up with that goal by 2030, although we have a lot of work to do, and that’s why events like this happen. So, we can inspire and motivate people to pick up one or more SDG goals.”
In the same vein, the Executive Chairman of the Southern Nigeria Youth Congress, Comrade Monday, offered his thoughts on challenges youths are facing and ways to solve them.
In his words, “Well, one thing I feel has been a major hindrance for youth development in our country is drug abuse within our youths. And it’s something that is really affecting the youth seriously. ‘’
And I feel as a youth leader, we must not only end in just organizing sensitization programmes to tell youths about the dangers of drug abuse. We must, within ourselves, intentionally and consciously reach out to those of our friends who are into substance abuse and talk to them. Like me, there’s one of my friends who does take alcohol.‘’And over time, I have been able to reach out to him and talk to him about it several times. And he has stopped. I have two of my friends who have stopped taking alcohol.
‘’I feel we should go out there, not just doing programmes and social media. Those people who are within us, our family members, and our friends who are into drug abuse – we should start to talk to them. I think that if we are doing that over time, it will bring good results, not just programmes alone.”
From Ibadan, a former NYSC corps member who served at the Directorate of Sustainable Development Goals, Delta State, David Olowabori, redefined what it means to be a youth leader.
According to him, “I want to emphasize that the youth are indeed the leaders of tomorrow. The youth that we build now are the youth that we lead tomorrow. And the way we build them now matters a lot because it’s good that we raise righteous youth who would become righteous leader tomorrow.
“The Bible says, if the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice. And if the wicked reign, the people mourn.”
Giving his opinion on how the the SDGs could be actualized, he said. “Now, one of the things we can do as the urgency demands is for youths to be meaningfully engaged to contribute to the SDGs. There should be a sense of sensitization and awareness. I advise that the various state governors and the federal government should disburse funds to the Directorate of SDGs in their respective states so that they will have means for mobilization.”
Speaking from Lagos, a Development Knowledge Facilitator on Sustainable Development Goals, Mercy Oluwafunmilayo, offered thought-provoking words as she says, “Personally, I love the fact that the SDGs lyrics show that the youth are being recognized; it represents the fact that, what we bring to the table is valued. So, for me, it means that being young is something that I should celebrate.
“Honestly, when it comes to youth-led initiatives, know that innovation is an ability. We know that thought-provoking ideas can be found in the youth of today’s world.
We are looking for youth with like minds; youths who are audacious, who are willing to break barriers to ensure that things are better in the society.
On how to ensure that youths contribute to the success of SDGs in Nigeria? He said, “First and foremost, I think awareness is very important, because there’s a kind of energy they bring to the table when we know what we’re tackling. So, I think those who are aware of the SDGs should join in making it known.
Also, a lot of young people should be interested in thinking globally, while starting locally because I’ve noticed that many people are thinking they want to conquer the world. This is very good and should not be discouraged, but how about the community you’re living in? How about the environment you’re living in? What change are you bringing? What new perspective are you bringing to the table? So, I think that in terms of actions, we should create awareness and also have the consciousness that we’re starting from wherever the community is.
“As Christians, we say, start from your Jerusalem.”In conclusion, as the Holy Scriptures admonish in Lamentations 3, verse 27, “It is good for a prominent man that he bear the yoke in his youth.” Let’s bask in the spirit of the global celebration of young folks, transforming their youthfulness into the fuel and inspiration to change Delta State, Nigeria, and the world.
