By Cecilia Ogezi
Afrigrowth Foundation since inception has been focused on youth-based projects anchored on principles of inclusion of youths in both public and private sector for development of the youth for a better society.
The organization which has a goal of raising dynamic youths and preparing them for various future endeavours has been committed to building capacity of the youths through career expository seminars involving a number of potential employers who gather for the purpose of providing valuable information to aspiring employees on the career opportunities in their sectors of coverage and their companies in general.
The president of the foundation, Mrs Dayo Keshi who believes there is a need for a holistic approach to all talks on empowerment for the youth reiterated that it has become imperative since Africa’s renaissance cannot be realised if adequate investment is not made in the youth who constitute about 40 per cent of its population.
Keshi stressed that the youth must be a part of the decision-making process because the youths of Nigeria have a role to play in nation building as they are very powerful change agents.
She noted that a close look at the age bracket of the youth which is such that it’s a mix between the very young and the maturing population which according to her are in the majority and the earlier the society takes a bold step in investing in the youth the better it will impact in the society.
She pointed out that the importance of full implementation of the African Youth Charter in Nigeria and indeed Africa is enormous as the charter is a tool for liberation and development of the African youth. She stated that there is need for the charter to be thoroughly studied.
As through AfriGrowth advocacy many discussions in several quarters have been open and shown that it goes beyond saying it alone but also advocating for it to go into our developmental policies.
As a front liner in the advocacy for full implementation of the African Youth Charter in Nigeria and in deed Africa the NGO recently organised the first of the online discourse series on the implementation of the African Youth Charter with a view of a more youth engaging and inclusive society in post-COVID-19 Africa.
Even as she added that the NGO recently organised the first of the online discourse series on the implementation of the African Youth Charter with a view of a more youth engaging and inclusive society in post-COVID-19 Africa.
Speaking on how to drive impactful programs for young people, she said as a leader in the sector her passion is to support a meaningful project and ensure implementation of these projects as without the needed support they can’t achieve much. She stressed youth empowerment Projects addresses the economic root causes of irregular migration by supporting youth employment and entrepreneurship improving the skills and employability of potential leaders.
“The youth have access to information and information dissemination and they also have access to themselves. As long as the youths are focused, they will be achievers, they have to be at the forefront”.
“Why the post lockdown era is very fundamental because it brought with it a number of realities, the lockdown demonstrated to a lot of things, it made us look inwards without thinking we must always look outside the shores of this country to do anything.”
“The president explained that the sector needs committed people to influence the youth to be influencers. As only a good plan for youths of this country in this country, maybe a conference for a holistic approach.”
Keshi noted that elsewhere youths are placed in strategic places through exchange programs
as the world has changed from what it used to be such that through effective programs the people can bring the world to Nigeria. Even as she dynamism of leadership has changed and from what is happening in the past everyone must be actively involved in development process.
Keshi added that the youth are vibrant people and have capacity when supported as after working with youths often find it challenging to identify resources for supporting their continued work.