ActionAid Nigeria, has called for a positive change in the country and Kogi state in particular towards ending violent extremism.
The Country Director, Ene Obi also urged all partners, citizens, Youth groups and stakeholders involved in the 2020 Youth summit to utilize the platform provided for Youth engagement, as a strong tool to build the nation.
Speaking in Lokoja on Tuesday during the 2020 Youth Summit, with the Theme; Youth Engagement for Global Action, the Country Director said that the central message to the youth is that they should act and see themselves as peace builders in the society.
While stressing the need for the people to ensure love towards each other, Obi said “we don’t always have to agree, but we must empower each other, find a common ground, build bridges across our differences to pursue the common good for the people.
She maintained that the Sustainable Development Goal sixteen which highlights the need for peace, justice and strong institutions can only be achieved when youths become positive force for development and are provided with the knowledge and opportunities they need to thrive.
According to Obi, young men and women in conflict zones have suffered several psychological loss for many decades, which she said often affect the way they think and act, saying that Kogi is not left out.
She said, according to the National Bureau of Statistics, Kogi state has an unemployment record of 19.7 per cent, in Q3 in 2018, which she said has risen in 2019 and 2020, with the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, noting that the need to create new avenues and fresh perspectives for Youth engagement is relatively obvious and eminent.
Mrs Obi said Actionaid Nigeria through its System and Structure Strengthening Approach against Radicalization to Violent Extremism, (SARVE 11), in kogi State, funded by the Global Community Engagement and Resilience Fund (GECERF), has been working closely with the state government and other key stakeholders through its local rights partner, Participation Initiative for Behavioural Change in Development, (PIBCID), to ensure that drivers of conflicts like idleness, perceived marginalization and restiveness resulting to violence are properly addressed.
The Country Director however regretted that the COVID-19 pandemic has further compounded the situation with the closure of schools and many youths who were previously employed now out of jobs due to the economic crisis.
In his remarks, the kogi State commissioner of Youth and Sports Development, Idris Musa, said that the year 2020 topic for youth celebrations is timely and unique in sensitizing the youth against violent estrimism in kogi State and the country at large.
Speaking further he said, “I have no doubt that at the end of today’s summit, our youth will have a change of attitude towards violent extremism.
