The Director, Programme Quality and Influencing, Plan International Nigeria, Helen Idiong, has called on the newly appointed Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Nwike, to prioritise addressing the plight of youth in the FCT, expressing concerns on the increasing rate of unemployment.
Idiong made the call while fielding questions from the media during the organization’s #WeListen event to mark the 2023 International Youth Day.
According to her, unemployment affects young people more, expressing worry on the increasing number of youth roaming the streets of the capital territory having nothing to do, just as she stressed that their welfare should be given jmmediate and adequate attention.
She therefore canvassed support for youths to explore opportunities available in green skills, charging the youths to be creative and adopt ideas from other climes to save our environment.
“Government cannot do everything so given their spaces they can think of good skills to be able to protect the environment as well as generate income for themselves.
“We are calling on the Minister of the FCT to look into the plight of the youths. Yes, we heard he is looking at the masters plan of FCT , structures that are not in place he is going to demolish them, properties that have not been developed he is going to ensure that it’s revised but what is more pressing is the fact that we have these army of youths on the streets not doing anything.
“We call on the minister to also, as he is putting things in place to reverse the masters plan back to what it use to be , he should also put the issues of the youths in the forefront because the army of youths we have in FCT not doing anything could even be the trigger what we cause a confederation of this country.
“What is happening in the FCT is frightening, you walk around and you see a lot of youths on the streets having nothing to do. The theme for this year’s international youth day is also very apt which is green skills and everyone will not be able to fit into the space for white collar job and so we are also looking at green skills,” she stressed.
“The issue of employment affects the youths mostly and we cannnot have this large population unemployed so we are hoping that by bringing the youths to the fore, getting youths voices heard and take youth issues serious.
“The issues of youths doesn’t have to wait for a particular period so we have to put youth issues in the forefront so that government can have to look at the model we put in place so they can start intervening,” she added.
One of the participants; a Plan International Youth Engagement and Advocacy intern also encouraged youths to go into green skills explaining that the planet is for everyone to explore, just as she stresses the need to protect the environment, always consider the climate and the earth.
“Plan International is considering youth centeredness as a new approach to its Programme
We can see how climate change is distracting everything and affecting everything including prices of food. We work with girls adolescent wellbeing at plan International,” she said.