By Hillary Asemota
In line with the timeline for the review of the National Youth Policy (NYP), the Federal Government has inaugurated a 27-man Committee to immediately commence work on the 2019-2023 National Youth Policy.
The Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Sports and Youth Development, Alhaji Ismaila Abubakar while inaugurating the Committee today in his office in Abuja, stated that the aim of setting up the review team by government was to ensure that the Ministry has a befitting policy document that will serve as a guide for the development of the nation’s teeming youth.
According to him, “The national youth policy, like other government policies, is the handbook of the Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports Development’s guide on youth development as it represents the declaration of the Nigerian Government to the practical support it intends to give to its youth.”
He stated further that the 2019-2023 Edition of the National Youth Policy is in the last lap of its journey, especially as the policy itself stipulates a 5-year periodic review, hence the need for the commencement of this process.
Ismaila informed that part of the successes recorded in the implementation of the 2019-2023 Edition of the NYP by the Federal Government includes
Youth inclusion, participation, and access to information, which enables them to know their rights.
The Ministry, in partnership with the Civil Society Organizations, Private Sector and International Agencies, he said, has through enlightenment and publicity, taken National Youth Policy to the grassroots.
He added that various programmes and projects were also implemented across the six geo-political zones in line with the policy thrust of government.
Ismaila explained that the periodic review of the NYP guidelines has become imperative, particularly due to the dynamic nature of human endeavour, which he emphasised is not static. “It is the dynamic nature that has prompted the review of the guidelines in human activities in order to get better results”, he added
The Permanent Secretary observed that, there have been a lot of changes in the perception and actions of Nigerian youth towards government policies in the last five years, especially in this era of Information Communication Technology (ICT).
Besides, he said, “the age range of youth (15-29) in the current Edition of the NYP has generated a lot of debate and controversy, as it appears to fall short of Nigeria cum Africa youth age reality; thus, the justification for the review to address the current situation.”
The Permanent Secretary noted that it is in view of these that the government approved the commencement of the review process with the formation and inauguration of the Committee, which is expected to work from now to February 2024.
While charging the Committee to bring their wealth of experience to bear in ensuring that they produce a one stop shop Policy Document for implementation by government, he stated that other terms of reference for the Team is to amongst others; oversee the entire review process of the National Youth Policy 2024-2027 until its launching; ensure integration of youth concerns from each geo-political zone into the final policy document;
ensure that the new policy is in tune with global trends, supervise the various consultations with stakeholders during the review process; as well as bring up any other activity that will add value to the process.
Ismaila, commended all relevant stakeholders for their support in ensuring the success of previous reviews as well as implementation of the editions.
The Permanent Secretary therefore called on development partners and other relevant stakeholders to put all hands-on deck, work assiduously and note “that it is our collective responsibility to continue to ensure youth issues are mainstreamed into National Agenda”.
He assured that the Ministry will not only continue to maintain open doors to partnerships and collaborations but also repose confidence on the ability of the team to live up to its task of producing a new Policy for Nigerian Youth in line with the policy thrust of the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu-led Administration.
Responding, the Chairman of the Committee and Director, Education and Youth Development EYD), in the Ministry, Alh. Kabiru Mohammed assured that the Committee will work tirelessly and also bring their wealth of experience to bear with a view to providing Nigeria with the best policy document in recent times for our teeming youth in line with global best practices.