My Facebook Badge!

2nd Runner-Up Cyber Peace Contest

Yesterday was a great day for me. I was rewarded for my writing. That best decribes my happiness. Many a times, i put in for contests nlike this and do not get anything not even an acknowldgement for it, but this time i got a prize and a Certificate.

I sent in a report of TIG's first project, Save University Education Project 2004 and it nearned the prize.

There is virtue in persistence and steadfastness.I wish i can continue in this trend as am sure its the beginning of good and great things to come.

Am a winnerrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr

TIG Retreat Pictures in Video.

http://www.sendspace.com/file/97hbi8

Arsenal and the exit of Igwe Henry.

Arsenal...i cannot remember when i pledged my commitment to Arsenal Fottball Club as a fan and i try as much as possible to pinpoit the particular year atleast for knowing sake since there is no payment accruing to the oldest fan (just kidding). The closest story i can remmebr is that i was an admirer of the accurate long passes of the Arsenal Football team during the Unbeaten runs season and like most Nigerians, i was sympathetic to the only Nigerian Player in the Arsenal Line up then, the humble Nwankwo Kanu who i admire in his 25 numbered jersey.

Like everyother Gunner, i love Henry, he is good and i cannot ever over describe him. However, over the last few months, specifically during the final period of the 2006 UEFA Champions League and the 2006-2007 Premiership season, the mien and heroic exploit HENRY has been known for has waned seriously.

However, the exit of this talisman of arsenal of nine (9)years has generated a lot of news ad controversies. So many theories have been postulated by professionals who have the pedigree to do such. While i personally disagree with some, i buy into a couple of them.

1. The exit if Henry will pschologically awake our players that there is no Henry to do the magic again, so they have to give in their best and they all have responsibility and not one man. This invariably will trigger the action within every other player in that team. The young lads have shown that they have the energy in them, its just left for them to translate that to winnings.

2. I do not know what pushed Arsene to agree on Henry's Exit, but as far as am concerned, "Prof" Arsene would never let him go if he knows he still has a contribution to the team.Arsene knows he has replacements, and willing to get additional.



3. The issue of the Board might actually look messy for now, but ofcourse Boardroom politics cannot be understood if you are outside the Board.But as far as am concerned, Dein's and Henry's exit has brought a lot of embarrasment to the Team and i want to speculate that issues would have been sorted out before Autumn when the commitment of Arsene to the team for another round of contract will be required.

4. Finally, little was known of Jose Mourinho before the Porto escapades in 2004. When Okocha left Nigerian team, little did we know that there was a Mikel who was waiting to take over. When Viera left Arsenal, everybody thought it was the end of the beautiful display of the round leather game Arsenal is known for but, alas, Cesc Fabregas took the opportunity as a challenge and have excelled in that role ever since. The point remains, its time for other known strikers in the team like Adebayor, Van Persie, Walcott etc to prove the stuff they are made of. When we have additions before the transfer windows closes, its another chance to show Arsenal in a new and better light.

I remain a GUNNER and will be for Life. I believe in our payoff to Discover, Nuture and Deepen our players and to that i see an organisation who knows what it stands for. It is not wrong if an organisation wants to be conservative like the Anti Kroenke group but requires a risk taker like Dein to prove that chnage might be excellent sometimes. if Dein is gone for now, he might be back in a split second.

Arsenal Remains a Team to watch and i can bet this season will be surprising for so many people.

Arsenal! Arsenal !! Arsenal !!!

Youth Inclusion in Decision making processes in Nigeria

Youth Inclusion in Decision making processes in Nigeria.
(1995-2005)
1.0 Young people in all countries are both a major human resource for development and key agent for social change, economic development and technological innovation but these ability of youths cannot be discovered if they are not streamlined onto decision making processes of government at all levels.

In Nigeria, youths account for about 48 percent of the population and because they comprise the most virile and articulate members of the populace the Federal government promulgated the 1983 National youth policy with a revised edition in 1989 with the aim of developing and empowering the Nigerian youth. Four years after the General Assembly adopted a World Programme of Action for Youth to the year 2000 and beyond in 1995 and exactly 10 years after it revised the National youth policy in 1983, Nigerian Government through its Ministry of Inter-Governmental Affairs, Youth and Special Duties launched its National policy on youth Development in the year 1999 which was developed in participatory for a with youth across the country.

2.0 Based on the Proposals for action under paragraphs 104-107 of the World program of Action for youth to the year 2000 and beyond, the Nigerian government, Civil Societies, youth NGOs etc have over the last 10 years contributed to seeing that youth voices are streamlined into decision making processes. While there was little done in the early part of the decade due to political instability, the advent of Democracy in the last 5 years has brought about tremendous changes in the system.

This report will try to identify the various contributions of various Government agencies, Civil Society and Youth Focused NGOs while finally will measure progress against the proposals for Action to ascertain , what has be done and what still needs to be improved upon.

Focus Review of various Government agencies, Civil Society and Youth Focused NGOs initiative in the areas of Youth and participation in the Decision making processes.This focus review includes a description of the programmes of these Government agencies, Civil Societies and Youth Focused NGOs. Although different in their approach, all have shown a significant interest on this theme.

Focus 1: Nassarawa State in Nigeria is a sprawling state situated in the North Central part of the country. Like all other infant states when compared to other states in Nigeria, Nassarawa government attention has always being towards the development of an economically strong and sound state.

The effort of the government to enable youths to contribute immensely to its development is reflected highly in the education sector where atleast 28 percent of its total budget over the years has been committed to the sector. This is in addition to the three skills acquisition center available in the state in partnership with a German organization.

Quoting the words of the State Governor, he said “The centers will train young school leavers to acquire basic skills to support our economic development efforts”.

In 2003, the state further included young people into its rank and files of decision making bodies by employing a total of One thousand seven hundred and Forty Youths (based on 60 youths from each of the 29 local Governments).
The Governor in his words added that “we believe the best way we can equip our youth for National Development and self fulfillment is through the provision of adequate opportunities for sound education”.

Focus 2: In the South – South part of Nigeria is situated Akwa Ibom state. It is of the States in Nigeria blessed with Natural resources in abundance. Since inception of Democratic governance in the state, youth inclusion in decision making structures of the state have been reinforced where new opportunities are also being created.

In 2003, the state government upgraded the existing Bureau of youth and culture to a full fledged Ministry of Youth and Sports.
Consequent upon this, the state government facilitated the establishment of a vibrant Youth Council in the state which has a consultative status with the State Government on issues relating to youth development.

The government also holds an interactive forum with representatives of youth groups in Uyo (the state capital) to further fashion out issues relating to youth development in the state. The Ministry of Youths and Sports realizing the enthusiasm of youths about sporting activities is encouraging sporting activities in the state and its contingent to major events excel at such outings.

The government understands that youths abilities have been under-utilized, under developed and marginalized in a way but Akwa Ibom State is taking the issue of youth empowerment seriously having realized the need to integrate youth in the affairs of the state and make him relevant in its development.


Reviewing the activities of the Federal Government.

Target Ministry: Ministry of Inter-Governmental Affairs, Youth and Special Duties and other Line Ministries.

The Federal government in its bid to streamline youth voices into decision making processes saw the emergence of youthful Frank Nweke Jnr. has the Minister in the Ministry of Inter-Governmental Affairs, Youth and Special Duties.

In his capacity as Minister, the Federal government launched the National policy on Youth development, a document developed in consultation with youths in the country through different fora. The government went further to strengthen the National Youth Council of Nigeria while also offering support to the increasing Youth Focused and Youth led Non-Governmental Organisations.

Corpers under the National Youth Service Corps scheme are currently going through series of training on issues relating to entrepreneurial abilities, Wealth creation and Self Reliance. The training is also built on the premise to further increase the faith of youths in the country and contributing to its development as major stakeholders.

The government further encourages youth employment through its National Poverty Eradication Programme (NAPEP) which has seen to the employment of over 5,000 youths into the different sectors of the economy and private organizations. Furthermore the government is planning to launch its Youth Development Fund which is under the youth empowerment programme. This fund is to provide financing for the young people who have bright entrepreneurial ideas and initiative so that their involvement in both the public and private sector will further boost the economic development of the country.

The Ministry of Inter-Governmental Affairs, Youth and Special Duties is furthermore becoming more youth friendly and responsive to the needs of young people. The support of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo is also ensuring that youths are consulted in issues that affect them. This could further be seen when he held an interactive session with leaders of the Niger Delta Youth on how to further bring peace to the incessant restiveness in the area. It is worthy of month to say here that the interactive session was a major impetus for the peaceful atmosphere existing in the Niger Delta presently. The President furthermore encourages other line ministries to involve youths in planning and implementation of their programmes that affect them. Manifestation of this call can be seen in the Ministry of Communications which would be hosting the Africa Regional Conference of the World Telecoms Development Conference in 2005.Youths were consulted to come up with the proposals for the youth forum of the conference. In addition to this the Government has also shown support to funding a number of youths to the conference in full in other to translate their words into actions. The ministry also maintains a discussion rapport with youths on an online forum with officials of the ministry also as members.


Progress Measurement.

Paragraphs 107 of the World program of Action for youth to the year 2000 and beyond states clearly the following Proposals for Action in respective member states,

(a) Improving access to information in order to enable young people to
make better use of their opportunities to participate in decision-making;
(b) Developing and/or strengthening opportunities for young people to
learn their rights and responsibilities, promoting their social, political,
developmental and environmental participation, removing obstacles that affect their full contribution to society and respecting, inter alia, freedom of
association;
(c) Encouraging and promoting youth associations through financial Educational and technical support and promotion of their activities;
(d) Taking into account the contribution of youth in designing,
implementing and evaluating national policies and plans affecting their
concerns;
(e) Encouraging increased national, regional and international
cooperation and exchange between youth organizations;
(f) Inviting Governments to strengthen the involvement of young people
in international forums, inter alia, by considering the inclusion of youth
representatives in their national delegations to the General Assembly.

The Nigerian Government can be said to have achieved 25 percent of these proposals while another 15 percent is being worked on.


Achievement

1.0 The Nigerian Government has been able to achieve a greater success in the areas of: Taking into account the contribution of youth in designing, implementing and evaluating national policies and plans affecting their concerns; and it is hoped that this will be improved upon to further include out-of-school youths. The existing structures are not perfect, but it can still be improved upon. Youth Community Associations should also be integrated into the system to further increase access and better understanding of rural youth.
2.0 The proposed Youth Development Fund is a welcome idea by youths as it will further encourage and promote youth organizations fitting into SS(C) of the Proposals for Action : Encouraging and promoting youth associations through financial, Educational and technical support and promotion of their activities.




Improvement
3.0 The Government should also try to reinforce the existing National Youth Congress to further accommodate youths in under privileged areas to be able to achieve a greater measure of: Developing and/or strengthening opportunities for young people to learn their rights and responsibilities, promoting their social, political, developmental and environmental participation, removing obstacles that affect their full contribution to society and respecting, inter alia, freedom of association.
4.0 The government needs to fashion out in consultation with youths how information can be more disseminated to get youths all across the country informed on initiatives, projects and opportunities. While the effort of the government is commended, the present structure has to be improved upon.
This will fall inline with: Improving access to information in order to enable young people to make better use of their opportunities to participate in decision-making.
Defect Areas
5.0 The government needs to evolve a plan of action to encourage Nigerian youth interaction with other youths from all other world as this will help to bring about more interaction and appreciation of culture thereby achieving SS (E) of the proposal for Action. Encouraging increased national, regional and international cooperation and exchange between youth organizations. This we believe if rightly pursued will even bring about Tourism patronage for the country and also boost the Nigeria: Heart of Africa project.
6.0 The Nigerian Government finally needs to involve youths in its delegation to UN meetings as this we identify as a major reason why most youths don’t have access to information firsthand like their counterpart in the rest of the World. Youths who intend to participate on their own most time are always cut short due to financial and Visa constraint they go through most times.If this is done we are sure will have achieved SS (F) of the Proposals for Action: Inviting Governments to strengthen the involvement of young people in international forums, inter alia, by considering the inclusion of youth representatives in their national delegations to the General Assembly.


Conclusion
Finally the Nigerian Government has tried and has to be commended but needs to do better to further secure the future after the present crop of Leaders.

Interview on Africa Union Government.

Interview with Sanusi Ibraheem, The Intellectual Group

Sanusi Ibraheem is the Ag. Executive Director, The Intellectual Group, Nigeria based in Ogbomoso, Nigeria and working on issues around youth development. In March, Saloman Kebede interviewed him on the upcoming Grand Debate on Continental Government during the next African Union Summit, June – July 2007. The full proposal being considered by the Heads of States can be viewed at www.pambazuka.org/aumonitor

What are the strengths and weaknesses of the current proposal?
The strength of the proposal is the fact that Africans will for the first time be uniting, very similar to the European Union. There will be free movement across the continent. Weakness- I hope we will not have weak institutional structures right from the start. That may give room for some lapses, which at the end of the day become too cumbersome. For instance we may be discussing things on the ground that we cannot accommodate.

Should it be adopted in Accra in July 2007, what would you like to see the African Union Commission achieve within the first phase (2007-2009)?
Give room for Civil Society participation in the process before the final adoption. If the reason the government is uniting structures is for the unity of the people of Africa, then the civil society most especially young people should be involved in the process. I hope that the first phase will be able to achieve the resolution of various crises in Africa especially, Sudan, Somalia/Ethiopia, Zimbabwe, Congo etc. If we are able to solve these crises, we would have taken the first most important steps to economic emancipation.

And why would this form of continental union be important to African citizens & particular the poor and marginalized?
When we adopt freedom of movement, for instance, we benefit from free information exchange and best practices that could be learn’t more easily and replicated in various other individual state. This will help us understand that, we are one and not northern African, western African, Central African or Southern African. The peer review mechanism is a good system to improve on a government weakness. A Continental Union will bring coherency and stability in our countries which is good for our economies and will consequently increase export, and impart more on local production and increase foreign exchange flows into Africa and ultimately will contribute to reducing the number of poor people living in Africa.

How could states and non-states ensure that continental union efforts are transparent, participatory and driven by an appreciation of political and economic rights?
The civil society organizations should be involved and consultations carried out widely across all segments of the society. Each States should be encouraged to carry out Sensitization workshops on the Union Government Proposal and ensure that all segments of the society buys into it. This will bring a sense of ownership to all Africans and will see that it’s a collective responsibility. While involving all segments of the society in the process encourages the “buy in” needed to drive the process, it will also offer checks and balances on the other hand.

What obstacles must the AU overcome for the continental union to be successful?
Let us do away with the afro-pessimistic attitude in our midst. Many of us strongly doubt the possibility of such a structure working out. Secondly, the Intra – Region crises should be curtailed if the process must succeed. With the right attitude and a safe environment to operate, there is no limit to Africa’s Progress.

In what policy area, would you like to see greater convergence and unity across Africa and why?
The economy. The strength of the economy is vital in the provision of basic needs to our people. We also need to change the political face, particularly in leadership and policy making.

This interview is one of several interviews with African citizens and CSO leaders on the AU proposal for Continental Government. Emily Mghanga of Pan Africa Programme Oxfam edited this interview. The views expressed here are the perspectives of the interviewee. Sanusi Ibraheem can be reached at Email: Ibghandi2001@gmail.com