Over 120 stakeholders drawn from Government, public, private, media and third sector institutions, donor agencies, retirees, youth and community volunteers converged to review/validate the National Policy on Inclusive Volunteerism for Nigeria and its Plan of Action.
The review and validation took place at the Main Conference Hall, Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation in Abuja during a One Day Workshop organised for the Stakeholders by the Nigerian National Volunteer Service (NNVS), the Presidency in collaboration with Voluntary Service Overseas (VSO), Fresh and Young Brains Development Initiative (FBIN) and United Nations Volunteers held.
Addressing the workshop, the Permanent Secretary, Political and Economic Affairs Office (PEAO), office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation Mr. Andrew Adejoh David emphasised the importance of volunteerism, saying it is a critical part of national development.
According to him, there was the need to ensure that Nigeria develop and adopt a national policy on Volunteerism that is all encompassing, saying this necessitated the call for the review and validation workshop.
“There is need that Nigeria creat and establish an institutionalized bases for Volunteerism in the country especially at this stage of national development when we are looking for answers to unemployment, volunteerism is a more critical part of national development.
“Many countries use Volunteerism Nigerian does not but many former permanent secretary’s and directors are ready to give their time to provide support to any aspect of governance that would enable growth,” he assured.
In her remarks, the Country Coordinator, United Nations Volunteers Programme Ms. Veronica Obiuwevbi noted he numerous gains of Volunteerism, saying it is an act that both the country and the volunteer benefits imensely.
“Voluntarism is a mutual beneficial act in the sense that both the country and the individual benefit at from the act.
Its a platform that gives everyone the opportunity to contribute their skills, voices and experience.
“Nowadays when employers want people with vast experience the advantage of Volunteerism is limitless and encourages people to come as they are so a young person who is out of school can volunteer to work somewhere and in the cause of that he is able to build his skills, capacity that can enable him get a paid job.
“A retiree who has worked over the years and want to do something more , Volunteerism provides that platform and can make him come back and give what he has learnt over the years so I would say its mutually beneficial to the volunteer and the country at large.
“Looking at the high level of unemployment, Volunteerism is the way to go. Even in the next decade of action of SDG one way to quickly actualization this to to push around young people ganer their experience and push them in a drive to ensure that the SDG is attained so it is the fastest and less cost effective way to harness knowledge towards the actualization of the SDG so its a win for everyone,” she said.
While giving an overview of the policy, the National Consultant on the policy review who is also the CEO/Founder, Fresh and Young Brains Development Initiative (FBIN) Barrister Nkiruka Stella Okonkwo, disclosed that Nigeria is about to have a gender friendly inclusive policy on Volunteerism.
Okonkwo added that once the Policy and Plan of Action are finalized, they will be sent to the FEC for its approval for onward public dissemination and implementation.
“One beautiful thing about this policy is that it does not look at a particular group but tries to be as inclusive as possible to factor in PWD, volunteers at all levels and addresses the needs of volunteers, NNVS and all partners in the process and of course the volunteer involving organization.
” This process for the policy started since 2007 but till now many people don’t know that there is a policy. Today we are trying to get the stakeholders input and validation of the policy so people from different sector are here to jointly review what has been developed to make sure that every body commits to the process.
“I have been personally involved in this process for more than ,12 years and I’m excited to see that Nigeria is about to have a gender friendly inclusive policy on Volunteerism and a plan of action so it doesn’t end at the shelves of government or just a national blueprint but something everybody takes ownership of,” she said.
The Nigerian National Volunteer Service (NNVS) and the United Nation Volunteer, are volunteer management institution set up by the federal government to complement national development effort through the management of volunteer services of Nigerians both at home and in the Diaspora.
The essence Government’s initiative in setting up NNVS is supported by the desire of Nigerians abroad to be involved in national development initiative similar to policies that have worked successfully in other countries.
