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Govt, Youths And Green Skills: Which Way Forward?

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Fortnight ago, countries all over the world observed the International Youth Day (IYD). A day set aside by the United Nations to draw worldwide focus towards various issues affecting youths.
It offers a platform to honour qualities of youth and the potentials that they hold towards development of their societies. The celebration of the day also affords an opportunity for every country to assess their investment in youth as well as appreciate the roles youths play in different sectors of government.
Remarkably, this year’s celebration had as its theme, “Green Skills For Youth: Towards a Sustainable World”.
Here, in Rivers State, the IYD was observed with a sub-theme: “Artificial Intelligence as a Subsisting Spectrum and how Rivers Youth Can Buy In”, at an event that took place at the Obi Wali International Conference Center, Port Harcourt.
The occasion was graced by the Rivers State, Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, though represented by the state Commissioner For Education, Prof. Prince Chinedu Mmom.
 It is imperative to seek an understanding of what Artificial Intelligence (AI) is. It is the ability of a computer or a robot controlled by a computer to do tasks that are usually done by humans because they require human intelligence and machines to mimic the problem-solving and decision-making capabilities of the human mind.
The youth of today are growing up surrounded by artificial intelligence. Their values, ways of thinking, and moral codes are all shaped not only by their parents or immediate caregivers but also by the technology that is ever-present in their daily lives.
Artificial intelligence is everywhere. AI is not just about robots or self navigating vehicles, it is on the internet, on social media and on smart devices. One of the most common misconceptions about AI is the danger that it can pose. But in the modern world, AI can become an essential piece of technology that can help society progress, as long as it is made for this purpose.
On the other hand, green skills are knowledge, abilities, values and attitudes needed to live in, develop and support a sustainable resource – efficient society.
The need to transition towards more environmentally sustainable modes of production and consumption has become imperative for developed as well as for developing countries.
The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals 9 and 12 include the target of upgrading infrastructure and retrofitting industries to make them sustainable and also achieve sustainable management and efficient use of natural resources by 2030.
The greening of the economy will no doubt change the skills required and the tasks involved in many of the existing occupations.
As the world tackles the escalating challenges posed by climate change and environmental degradation, the involvement of young minds in sustainable initiatives has become more significant than ever.
One of the most effective tools in their depository is Artificial Intelligence which has become known as crucial green skill that empowers youth to address environmental issues and contribute to a sustainable future.
With the ability to analyse vast amounts of data, identify patterns and make predictions, AI is revolutionising industries and empowering individuals to develop cutting -edge solutions to environmental challenges.
According to reports, AI can apply powerful predictive capabilities and intelligent grid systems to manage the supply and demand of renewable energy. This can be in form of predicting more accurate weather forecasts, optimize efficiency, cut costs, and unnecessary carbon pollution generation.
This however, comes down to green artificial intelligence which is an artificial intelligence that
uses lower comiputational costs to help reduce carbon emissions. It combines the immense value of artificial intelligence with the green values that is needed to lower carbon emissions and protect the planet from further climate change.
Green AI can also help optimize traffic flow, reduce energy consumption and improve waste management in cities using AI enabled camera’s and sensors. This can help reduce carbon emissions and promote sustainable urban development.
The Green General Skill Index identifies four groups of work tasks important for green occupations. They include, engineering and technical skills, design, construction and assesment of technology. This is needed for eco buildings, renewable energy design and energy saving research and development projects.
Science skills, in high demand in the utility sector that provides basic amenities such as water, sewage services and electricity.
Operation management skills are also required to support green activities in forms through life-cycle management and cooperation with external actors including customers. Such skills are important and include sales engineers, climate change analysts, sustainability specialists, chief sustainability officers and transportation planners.
Lastly, monitoring skills include technical and legal aspects of business activities that are fundamentally different from the result of engineering or science. They prefer the skills required to assess the observance of technical criteria and legal standards. Some of the skills include environmental compliance inspectors, nuclear monitoring inspectors, nuclear monitoring technicians, emergency management directors, and legal assistants.
In addition to these skills, a range of soft skills are also considered to be important, not only for green skills, but generally for “skills of the future”. These include design hinking, creating adaptability, artificial intelligence, resilience and even empathy.
According to statistics, demand for green skills is more than supply. The World Economic Forum( WEF) explains that the environmental and renewables sector has seen 237% explosion of jobs over the past five years. Worldwide, green talent is on the rise from 9.6% in 2015 to 13.3% in 2021, a growth rate of 38.5% according to Linkedin.
WEF further explains that, more than half of the jobs by 2030 will require an understanding of digital technology. Young people must be able to effectively use digital tools and platforms to solve problems and create value.
At the celebration of the 2023 IYD organised by the Rivers State Government and attended by youths from the 23 local government areas of the state, the Rivers State Government restated its resolve to do everything possible to ensure youth development in the state.
Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, who spoke through the state Commissioner for Education, Prof.Chinedu Mmom, said youths formed the cornerstone of the administration’s development agenda and promised to make youth mentorship a policy focus of his administration.
Governor Fubara reasoned that as leaders of tomorrow, youths need to be armed with skills and knowledge that would help them to fill in leadership positions in the future.
At the federal level, President Bola Tinubu had reaffirmed the commitment of the Federal Government to create meaningful opportunities for Nigerian youth, through youth empowerment which is a fundamental pillar of all reform actions being implemented across sectors of the economy.
Also, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Abbas Tajudeen at the IYD charged Nigerian youths on the imperatives of skills acquisition to explore and use their talents for national development. He stated this in a statement signed by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Musa Abdullahi Krishi to mark this year’s IYD.
He noted that Nigerian youths have abundant talents and resilience which they have exhibited over the years, as well as passion for the country.
The Coca-Cola Foundation which also celebrated this year’s IYD restated its steadfast commitment to empowering Nigerian youths and cultivating a sustainable future together.
Empowering youths to take the lead for a sustainable future, the Strategy for Mentoring Initiative and Leadership Empowerment (S.M.I.L.E) organised a youth summit to foster youth leadership and driving positive change for the future.
The United Nations Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator for Nigeria, Mr. Matthias Schmale, who spoke during the programme organised by SMILE highlighted the importance of youth acquiring green skills to enable them access green jobs and foster a sustainable world.
The skills needed transition is directly clear. This cannot be done alone. Governmental collaboration with the business community can help build an engine for change and help the whole world move into greener future that works for everyone.
For Nigerian youths to acquire the capacity to compete for the ever increasing green skills jobs at the global, continental and regional levels, governments at all levels must deliberately empower the youths with knowledge. This talk should not end as a one- day event. By the time of the celebration of International Youth Day next year, we should be able to take stock and know what progress has been made in this direction.
By: Ibinabo Ogolo
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Need For Girl-Child Education In Society

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Girl-child education is a way by which a girl- child is being exposed through formal education for proper education.
It is a process whereby a girl-child is being exposed to some certain things according to “teachmit@wp”.
Girl-child education refers to the aspect of education that ends at developing the skills and knowledge of girls and women no matter their backgrounds.
Some parents think that educating a girl- child is wasting of their resources. No. When a female child is educated, it gives her that respect even the husband cannot treat her anyhow because he will know her worth.
The importance of educating the girl- child cannot be overemphasised. It helps to empower the country and makes them have a better life. Once they are educated, they realise the importance of exhibiting good hygiene habits.
It may interest you to know that when a girl-child is educated, she has a sense of belonging in the society. In Nigeria nowadays, they have the potential of becoming governors, chairmen of local government areas, among others.
The tendency of taking cognisance of the importance of reduction in child bearing is high. When a woman is educated, the level in which she will give birth will reduce considering the dangers inherent.
Firstly, she will calculate herself and know when to conceive, although with the consent of her husband and the numbers of children she wants.
A girl who is educated will know how to educate her children properly. She will be of good benefits to the family.
Truly, a girl who is not properly educated will suffer lack of knowledge, fall into early marriage which will lead into early pregnancy. Some of these can cause domestic violence.
Women need education because without proper knowledge, a woman cannot run her home properly. A woman that is educated leads her home aright.
Some men use and take advantage of uneducated women by rendering all kinds of abuses on them, some rape their wives in course of making love and others insults their wives in public all because there is no education. In life, males and females should be educated without discrimination.
Furthermore, educating a girl-child is like investing in a big business that one will not run into a loss.
According to Dr Shaifali, girls’ education is like sowing the seed which gives rise to a revitalised, cheerful and full-grown family plants.
She also said educated women have the capacity to bring socio- economic changes.
Growing up from the family of three, my father told me that he was not ready to train a female child and when I asked why, he said: ” because when you will grow and become great, then, a man will come from nowhere and marry you and all my money will be wasted. When you marry, your name will be changed that means all your riches and wealth will become your husband’s own because you people are one”.
Frankly, I was very bitter with myself and I started questioning God that why was I not created as man, but I took it upon myself that weather the devil likes it or not, I will prove my father wrong by going to school and I will show the difference.
As parents when training children we should not think less of any child because every child is important and have value.
Every child is a blessing from God. This is a clarion call to all men of our present society to accord their wives the respect they deserve. A man can develop his wife after marriage.
Education plays an important role in the life of a girl-child. Let every girl-child be educated. The government should provide the society with basic amenities such as good schools that are well-equipped.
Parents from time to time should be re-oriented in this regard taking cognisance of the importance of developing the girl-child. None should be misled by saying that the girl-child need not attend formal education.
Since some parents do not have the wherewithal to sponsor their children, governments at all levels should introduce free education to give room for equal opportunity. Bursary payment should be re-introduced in all higher educational institutions.
Education is the bedrock of any society therefore women education cannot end in the kitchen.

Princess Npapa
Princess Npapa is a student of Pan Africa Institute of Management and Technology.

 

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Celebrating Woman As An Icon Of Strength

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A woman is a dynamic multifaceted individual who embodies resilience, courage and determination.
She is a game changer and a force to be reckon with, a confidant empowered, supportive, adaptable and inspirational.
Many had asked why women are being celebrated even as recorded in calendar so frequently unlike men and I said, a woman being multifaceted and embodies resilience and determination is worth being celebrated unlike in the 80s when women were meant to understand that their place was in the kitchen of their husbands’ houses.
What an amazing level of development where women can choose a career and work on themselves and know that there is more to life than being in the kitchen and ending up in a man’s house with nothing to show for it.
Women are the strongest versions of the gender of humans in the world even in their silence, women hold a depth of emotions, questions and unspoken thoughts. Their smiles often conceal their true feelings, masking their fears, doubts and desires.
Despite these challenges, women continue to rise above, shattering glass ceilings and pushing boundaries.
Today innovative, women are enterprenuers, leaders, and change agents. Inspiring women like Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Chimamanda Adichie and many others have paved the way for future generation, their achievements serve as testaments to women’s strength, resilience and capabilities.
The calendar tell us how unique the woman is and her significance in the home and society at large. As a woman, she holds power and I celebrate every woman out there in the world irrespective of how you may have fallen, you shall rise above the challenges, support one another and celebrate collective strength and resilience.
Woman as an icon of strength is not just about individual achievements but creating supportive networks, uplifting others and celebrating collective success, defying expectations and redefining what it means to be a strong woman.
The strength and bravery of women are worthy of celebration by the entire world as none is unique as the epitome of nation builders, character molders and pacesetters not just in their family but to the society at large.
A woman is a selfless mother, lover and care giver to her family, a daughter who supports her parents, as a sister’s unshakeable bond with her siblings and a friends unconditional empathy and understanding.
These acts of kindness and love are not most times talked about but hold families and communities together and bonding strong women are powerful beings who have impacted the society, shaping the foundation of the world from the 80s to date, I personally want to celebrate all the icons of strength who had fought and are still fighting , that our voices as women are heard even unto the ends of time.
I celebrate you all amazing women for standing strong and paving ways for the future generation for equality, justice and human rights. To the rising child, teenager and adults who happen to be a ‘woman’, I celebrate our collective efforts, our strength in helping one another to rise, irrespective of our differences in our backgrounds.
We are super humans, unique beings, no wonder the Bible acknowledges the importance of our strength. Therefore, let’s celebrate every woman out there.

Kate Chisom Isiocha
Isiocha, is a student of Temple Gate Polytechnic.

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Children And Basics Of Family

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It is the idea of God that family should exit. Children form part of the family. God loves family so much that Jesus was born into the family of Joseph.
Everyone’s family is good and important. Children should not look down on their family whether they are rich or poor.
Children should respect and honour their family and foster love among their siblings. They should work together and make peace in the family. They should always stand in the gap. It is good for family members to carry all along since everyone may not be doing well.
The Christianity that children learn is practised in family. Faith-based organisations do a great job in moulding children’s character. Those are the behaviours that children exhibit towards siblings in family.
Every child born in a family is there for a purpose. A baby born into a family is supplying something. It may be joy, wealth and so on. Everyone is important in a family.
Adolescents who have graduated from school but may not be contributing financially can do one or two things at home. You can engage in preparing meals at home while parents are away for a job or business. Contributing in house chores will go a long way to relieve parents of stress after a day’s job.
What do you contribute to your family, especially during holidays both in nuclear and extended family?
The family you were born is constant but friends are temporary. You can decide not to continue in friendship but you cannot cut off your family. No matter how bad you think your family is and you decide to leave home, you must surely return. Your friends can harbour you for a while.
The child’s first identity comes from the family. What the child learns first comes from the family.
Family is the centre of love and care. People have started playing down on marriage because of neglect on basics of family. Marriage starts today and and the next few months, it is threatened. Respect for family plays a crucial role in marriage.
No child grows without parental control and influence. If a child refuses to grow without taking instructions from parents, he may grow up being wild. There are consequences when children do not obey their parents. There are those who want to be rebellious against their parents. They should know that their length of days are tied to their parents.
Your bioligical parents know you more than every other person. There is the wisdom and knowledge your parents have that you do not so it is proper to listen to them before choosing carriers both in academics and job. A young man or woman can choose who to get married to, but a greater role in the choice of who to marry and the marriage proper comes from the parents.
They know what is best for you. No matter how modern trends will influence you and prove it wrong, parent is the key. No one can love you more than your parents because they are your blood.
A lot of parents have been traumatised due to the fact that children they nurtured and trained turned their back on them at older age. Children should not abandon their parents for any reason.
As you grow up, situations may arise in marriage when you decide it is over with your spouse, but no matter the level of provocation with your parents, they will not despise you. Parents will also play a role in that regard. Problem arises in every family but how it is handled matters a lot.
Some children honour their mentors more than their parents. Although there are parents who shy away from their responsibilities. It is important that parents take full responsibility of their children. You cannot bring a child to the planet earth and refuse to perform roles as a parent. But parents may not quantify what they spent from childhood to adolescence. That is a blessing children cannot get from another person.
There are people who have attributed their failure in life to the fact that their parents, especially mothers are witchcraft. It is wrong to feel that your mother is instrumental to your failure in life. The only way to success is hardwork.
Let money not determine the level of love for your parents. Wherever a child goes, family is constant.

Eunice Choko-Kayode

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