NGOs Gear Up For International Youth Day Celebration

As countries all over the world prepare to mark World Youth Day tomorrow, Rivers State is not left out as Non Governmental Organisations based in the state have lined up activities to commemorate the day.
The International Youth Day (IYD) 2023 theme is “Green for Youth:Towards A Sustainable World.”
In a statement made available to The Tide and signed by the
Executive Director, Centre for Development Support Initiatives, Dr. Mina Ogbanga, the body would hold a Media Chat with youths based in Port Harcourt to highlight on their Green Project.
Also, the Freky-Andrew Essien Care Foundation (FAECARE), a body that caters for for children and youths based in Rivers State, would be organising community outreach programmes for youths in Oginigba and Mgbaraja areas of Rivers State on tomorrow while a outreach is scheduled to hold at Mgbesilaru and Rumukurushi areas of the state on August 19, 2023.
At the national level, the commomeration of the day will feature the public presentation of a book titled, “Youth Rising”: Harnessing the Potentials and Aspirations of Nigerian Youth Towards a Greater Nation by Ben Duntoye, former President, Pan African Youth and Executive Director, African Youth Resource Centre.
The book presentation is scheduled to hold on August 14 at the International Conference Centre (ICC) Abuja.
The occassion is expected to be graced by President Bola Tinubu and Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, state governors and other distinguished dignitaries.
The programme is put together by the National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN), National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), Nigerian Youth Parliament (NYP) and Nigerian Youth Congress (NYC) in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports Development.
International Youth Day is commemorated every year on 12th August. The main purpose of the day is to draw worldwide focus towards various issues surrounding the youths.
It offers a platform to honour qualities of youth and the potentials that they hold towards development of their societies.
It is also meant as an opportunity for every country to assess their investment in youth as well as appreciate the roles youths play in different sectors of government.
In his speech to mark this year’s IYD, the Secretary-General of United Nations, Antonio Guterres, urged governments to make youth participation ‘the norm, rather than the exception’, to shape climate resilient future.
According to him, “every year, International Youth Day celebrates the determination, ideas and leadership of young people as we pursue a better world.
Across all of today’s challenges, young people are calling for bold and accelerated action, standing solidarity with the most vulnerable and designing solutions to ensure social, economic and climate justice and peace and prosperity for all.”
Guterres explained that to expand youth participation, he recently launched a policy brief calling for governments to make youth participation the norm rather than the exception across decisions and policies around the world.
He stated that this year’s theme is key to ensuring young people’s gain and application of skills in the burgeoning green economy ,adding that, from innovative sustainable technologies and renewable energy to revolutions in transportation systems and industrial activity, young people must be equipped with skills and knowledge to shape a cleaner, greener, more climate resilient future.
“Humanity depends on the boundless energy, ideas, and contributions of you everywhere. Today and every day, let’s support and stand with young people in shaping a just and sustainable world,for people and planet,” he said.
The Assembly recommended the public information activities be organised to support the Day as a way to promote better awareness of the World Programme of Action for Youth, adopted by the General Assembly in 1995 (Resolution 50/81).

By: Ibinabo Ogolo