From Joseph Amedu, Lokoja
ActionAid Nigeria, an international Non-Governmental Organisation on Thursday called for the promotion of quality and inclusive education for all as a tool for preventing violent extremism through engagement and empowerment of the mind.
Mrs Tasallah Chibok, Programmes Director of Actionaid Nigeria made the call at a “Youth Summit on Preventing Violent Extremism in Kogi State” in Lokoja, organised as part of activities marking the 2019 International Youth Day.
Our Correspondent reports that the summit themed: “Transforming Education: Alternative to Preventing Violent Extremism” was organised by ActionAid Nigeria in collaboration with Participation for Behavioural Change in Development (PIBCID) with funding from Global Community Engagement and Resilience Fund (GCERF), Geneva.
Chibok said education was not just a strong tool for building sustainable growth through human capital development but a means to preventing violent extremism.
She said that Actionaid, through its Structure Strengthening Against Radicalization to Violent Extremism (SARVE) Project in Kogi State sponsored by GCERF had been working with government and other key stakeholders.
This, according to her, is to ensure drivers of conflicts like poor education, perceived marginalisation and idleness resulting in violence were properly addressed.
“For many years, youths and women in conflict prone areas have suffered severe psychological and physical loss. Like most states in Nigeria, Kogi state has not been left out.
“Kogi state for example recorded an unemployment rate of 19.7 per cent in third quarter of 2018 and an underemployment rate of 24.8 per cent in the period under review. This shows that there are plenty of our youths in the state who are seeking to be engaged.
“ActionAid Nigeria, has therefore taken keen interest in ensuring that they are protected from the influence of violence extremism and are properly engaged/equipped to contribute to the development of the state and the country at large”, she said.
Chibok commended Governor Yahaya Bello for signing into law the Youth Development Commission, the first Youth Commission Law in Nigeria to cater for the needs of youths by focusing on their development and engagement and called for its implementation in the state.
Declaring the Summit open, Gov. Bello who was represented by the state commissioner for Youth and Sports, Prince Salisu Sani-Ogu also urged the youth to avoid indulging in illicit drug abuse, alcoholism, outrageous clubbing and uncontrolled company.
He acknowledged the efforts of ActionAid Nigeria and the National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN) Kogi chapter for their consistency in creating social awareness in synergy with the government aimed at improving the well-being of youths in particular and the society in general.
Bello urged the youth not to allow themselves to used saying, “The only thing that can take you to the next level is your mind there’s no other person in life that can give you what you cannot give to yourself, believe in yourself that is the best way to get to the next level.”
Mr Israel Alonge, state chairman of the NYCN described violent extremism as a phenomenon without clear definition but who the negative impact was felt at all levels with terrorist organisations, cultists, kidnappers and armed robbers along other championing the unwholesome cause.
He charged the youths drawn from the 21 Local Government Areas of the state to go back and change the negative narrative of Kogi state being always in the news for one wrong reason or the other.
Our Correspondent also reports that the summit featured paper presentations on, “Transforming Education: Alternative to Preventing Violent Extremism by Dr Borok Maren of University of Lagos; Youth Development Initiatives and Prevention of Violent Extremism: The Nexus by Dr Philip T. Vante of Federal University, Gusau, among others.
