From Esther Akaa, Lafia
ActionAid Nigeria (AAN) in partnership with Global Peace Development (GPD) and Beacon Youth Initiative (BYI) has called for the speedy passage of a bill to establish the Nasarawa State Youth Development Commission which is currently at the Nasarawa State House of Assembly.
The Executive Director of GPD, Mr Ebruke Esike made the call on Tuesday during a peace walk held in Lafia, the Nasarawa State capital in commemoration of the 2021 World Peace day.
The peace walk which is part of the System Structure and Strengthening Approach against Radicalisation to Violent Extremism (SARVE ll) project with funding from the Global Community Engagement and Resilience Fund (GCERF) began at the Total filling station, Lafia and terminated at the state House of Assembly complex.
Speaking at the end of the peace walk,
Mr Esike said young people have increased risks of involvement in violence as victims and perpetrators, hence the need to establish a Youth Development Commission in the state to address issues of violent extremism.
He noted that AAN and her partners, through the SARVE ll project implemented in the state have trained and provided start-up kits for 750 youths, both young men and women on different skills of their choice ranging from; tailoring, phone repair, hair dressing, shoe making, bag making among others.
“We have also created community agencies that are supporting community resilience and early warning and early response to security threat.
“It is pertinent to mention that we successfully pushed for the adoption and signing of the Nasarawa State Action Plan (SAP) by the Executive Governor, Engr Abdullahi A. Sule in August, 2020 in line with United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325.
“Our most recent activity was the just concluded 2021 Youth Peace Camp where 500 Youth across the (SARVE II) project communities were camped in Doma LGA for 7 days and equipped with series of skill acquisitions, life skills, workshops on effects of drug abuse among others, in an effort to promote youth peace and security, in line with United Nation Security Council Resolution 2250, by providing a platform for peace building initiative and engagement among Nasarawa youths,” he said.
He therefore, called on the Nasarawa State House of Assembly to pass the bill into law, in order to address the numerous challenges confronting the youth in the state.
Also speaking, the Programme Officer, SARVE ll project, Mr Aliyu Adamu, stressed the need for peaceful co-existence among citizens of the state, saying it was key to development of the state and nation at large.
“We normally come out every 21st day of September to celebrate the World Peace Day and this year’s theme is “Recovering Better for an Equitable and Sustainable World.”
“We have also come out today to follow up on the Youth Development Commission Bill which has passed the first reading and we are waiting for the second reading and its subsequent passage into law. If this bill is passed, the state will become one of the states that will establish Youth Development Commission and by so doing, it will show a broader perspective and inclusion of youths in governance,” Mr Adamu said.
Responding, the Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Ibrahim Abdullahi, represented by the Chairman, House Committee on Information, Mohammed Omadefu commended the ActionAid and her partners for their giant developmental strides, aimed at fostering peace among communities in the state.
He assured of the assembly’s commitment to enacting laws that will have direct benefits on the youths and women who are the most vulnerable groups in the society.
“The government of Nasarawa State under Engr Abdullahi Sule is up and doing to ensure that peace is sustained in the state. On our part, we will maintain peace through legislative instruments,” the speaker said.