SECRETARY-General of the UN, Mr Ban Ki-moon, on Thursday called on government at all levels to partner with the youths to strengthen democracy in Nigeria.
Ban made the call in Abuja, in his goodwill message delivered at a youth conference by the Country Director of UNDP, Ms Ade Mamonyane-Lekoetje, to commemorate the 2012 International Youth Day.
The conference with the theme: “Youth Political Participation: Setting an Agenda for Good Governance and Sustainable Democracy in Nigeria” was organised by Democracy for Good Governance (DGD) project, an NGO.
Ban said that youths formed a major part of the country’s population, yet many of them suffered from low-wage, dead-end work and unemployment in spite of the potential embedded in them.
“Without urgent measures, we risk creating a lost generation of squandered talents and dreams, working with youths as a thing of priority.
“Around the world, there is a need to strengthen policies and investments involving young people.
“On International Youth Day, I call on governments, the private sector, civil society and the academia to open doors for young people and strengthen partnerships with youth led organisations.’’
According to him, the youths can determine whether this era moves toward greater peril or more positive change.
Also speaking, Mr Daouda Toure, the UN Resident Coordinator and UNDP Representative, said that the theme for this year’s conference was apt.
Toure,who was also represented by Mamonyane-Lekoetje, said that the theme was in relation to the announcement by the UN Secretary-General on making youth issues one of the priorities of his five-year action agenda.
He decried the non-inclusion of youths in democratic process by the political class, adding that it had hindered good governance and advised governments to partner with them to be able to drive electoral growth.
“The youths constitute over 50 per cent of the voting population in Nigeria.
“However, inadequate and deliberate measures to actively engage them in electoral process have largely hindered their input in the nascent electoral democracy in Nigeria.
“There is a dire need for greater social investment in young people to promote active citizenry, to develop tolerance, commitment to peace and full potential for creative leadership in democratic governance. ”
Dr Hussain Abdu, the Country Representative of Action Aids, in his presentation entitled: “Walking the Talk; Youth Inclusion in Nigerian Politics” advised governments to partner with youths to achieve economic growth.
Abdul observed that there had been efforts by governments to address challenges facing the youths, noting “if only the energy of the youth can be converted, there will be growth in the Nigerian economy.’’
“It is by partnering with the youths that the desired economic development can be best achieved since they formed major part of the nation’s population.’’
The conference attracted stakeholders from government parastatals, civil society organisations and youth based organisations.
The International Youth Day is celebrated globally on Aug.12 every year.