As part of efforts to foster Unity among Nigerian youths and enhance their participation in governance, Click Naija Online Radio, Radio Nigeria’s first online channel, organised the second edition of its youth engagement event tagged ‘Unite Naija’, on Tuesday, 31st 2023, which was held at Click Naija studios, Radio House, Garki, Abuja.
The show which had young panelists from different educational backgrounds, featured discussions touching on issues of concern to Nigerian youths such as Education reforms, insecurity, unemployment, and human development.
With the theme, ‘Unite Naija – “New Appointments of the President Tinubu’s Administration: What Youths Can Do Differently”.
The show aimed among other things, to come up with resolutions to aid the new administration of President Bola Tinubu in addressing some of the challenges Nigerian youths face.
In her opening remarks, the General Manager of Click Naija, Ehizogie Ohiani, urged the youth representatives from the 3 Universities to bear their minds and speak up on expectations from the youths appointed into key offices as their voices will be channelled to Mr President Bola Tinuibu.
She added that the ‘Unite Naija’ Campus show is a youth engagement show that in time will be brought to various campuses’, in line with the station’s vision of creating original content with Nigerian youths to amplify their voices in the political and governance space.
At the end of the conversation, some resolutions in certain key areas by these youth was for the new appointees to see their present opportunity to serve as a gateway for other youths to also come into governance as youths are not lazy and can stand up to any form of challenge.
Education: The panellists identified poor funding of educational institutions by the government at all levels, there should be more incorporation of locomotive forms of learning alongside cognitive, to create a balance.
They, therefore, called on the government to give proper funding to education.
Youths should back up their words with action. There should be practical steps in involving the youth away from political appointments, they should be involved in investing and supervising agriculture.
Health systems should also be looked into as these are where the common man can directly benefit from.
Youths should educate themselves with available resources like social media and all.
Youths should not be distracted, but should stay focused and keep on keeping on.
They advocated for the re-introduction of history civic and cultural education into the school curriculum to teach the generation unborn to imbibe the historical beliefs, morals and values of our great country.
Leadership and good governance: They asked that Instead of the school curriculum focusing only on the development of cognitive functioning, curriculum developers should focus on fashioning a curriculum that will include the development of the motor skills of the children from primary one to University level so that when key positions are given to them in their youthful age, they will not be naive about holding such leadership seat.
Government to prioritize youth development, investment infrastructure and infrastructural development of Nigeria.
Dr Harris Ifeanyi, a lecturer from Baze University called for the New government to take practical steps to action to include the youth in governance and leadership.
Click Naija’s Elizabeth Ereke and Nasir Yinusa moderated the discussion.
The group of panellists were Angel James, President of the Mass Communications Student Association, MACOSA, Nile University, Bello Yahaya Badamasi, SUG president of the University of Abuja, Uyo Kadiri, Mass Communications Student of Nile University, Jethro Odubekun, a graduate of Guidance and Counselling, member Vigor Youth Network, Suleiman Musa, Baze University, Mudia Iredia, Baze University, and Bulu Attitude of Nile University.
The ‘Unite Naija’ season 2, campus edition was proudly sponsored by Leadway Assurance Nigeria, and it provided a platform for Nigerian youths in the University to have issue-based discussions and debates on politics and governance, devoid of the usual rancour and divisive rhetoric that characterise engagements involving Nigerian youths in recent times.
Story: Angela Osuji