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International Youth Conference
Related to country: Nigeria

Translations available in: English (original) | French | Spanish | Italian | German | Portuguese | Swedish | Russian | Dutch | Arabic

An International Youth Conference has just been concluded in Abuja Nigeria.This conference held from the 27th- 30th of April, 2008 at the Nicon Luxury Hotel Abuja with a theme ' Investing in Young People's Health and Development:Policies and Programs and was organized by the Bill and Melinda Gates Institute for Population and Reproductive Health. The conference brought together stakeholders from all the continents of the world. Research papers and projects where shared and best practices. Various organizations like the Population Council, John Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, University of Ibadan, Obafemi Awolowo University, FHI, UNFPA, World Bank and a host of others where fully represented. There was a large youth representation at the conference with over 200 out of the 565 participants at the conference.

The Abuja Call to Action was presented by the Speaker of the House of Representatives of Nigeria, Odimeji Bankole.

Details of this conference can be gotten from the blogspot http//2008youthconference.blogspot.com
or www.jhsph.edu/gatesinstitute

May 10, 2008 | 4:55 AM Comments  0 comments

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CLCWA ICT BASICS TRAINING AT ASABA
Related to country: Nigeria

Translations available in: English (original) | French | Spanish | Italian | German | Portuguese | Swedish | Russian | Dutch | Arabic

The importance of Information Communication Technology (ICT) in present day Nigeria and even the world at large cannot be over emphasized. As part of the Creating Local Connections West Africa (CLCWA) project in Nigeria, a Training of Trainers workshop was held at calabar in February this year; after which participants were expected to carryout training programs in their various location.
It is as a result of this expectation that I, Isikwenu Oghenefego carried out a training on ICT basics for 30 young secondary school girls in Asaba.

Location of project: Asaba Girls Grammar School (AGGS), Asaba.
Dates of training: 29th of February, 7th and 13th of March, 2008.
Duration: Each training day had three hours.
The project:
Time was not spent on mobilization and awareness because I already had an ongoing project which had the training of participants on ICT basics as one of its components, so, I incorporated the CLCWA project into my ongoing project.
I want to state categorically that it was the best thing that happened to participants during the school’s second term period. All the necessary introductory formalities were conducted, like the filling of the application forms by interested participants and scouting for available resources within our immediate environment.

The first breakthrough we had was the provision of a resource person (facilitator) for the introduction to the computer basics which was the first day’s component, by a computer business center in Asaba. This really reduced the responsibilities on me as the lead trainer, so I was able to concentrate on other issues. The venue for the first two days was provided by the school while we used a cybercafé for the last day’s training, which had a more practical component.
The participants went through all the training sessions very excitedly since it was the first time they were having an opportunity to use a computer.
Apart from the classes they had, a simplified handout that covered the major topics and issues about the computer, internet and the TIG website. On a general note, the training was a huge success but not without challenges.

On the last day of the training we had a full representation of the CLCWA project team in Delta State in the person of Mr. Timothy Ogene, state coordinator and Mr. Ogaga Maxwell, deputy coordinator. After the keynote addresses by Mr. James Omokiti, a representative of the British Council Youth works project and Mr. Timothy Ogene; participants were set for the business of the day.
We started with a recap of previous lessons before proceeding to the internet where we concentrated on opening of emails, sending and reading messages after which all participants logged on to the TIG website.
It was a very tedious exercise for the trainers because we had cases of technical hitches and slow pace of comprehension by students. Mr. Ogaga Maxwell took charge of the sessions for the day and was assisted by Mr. Timothy Ogene. Miss. Isikwenu Oghenefego was every where, but concentrated more on logistics and participants/trainers welfare. The training ended at about 5.00pm with presentation of certificates to participants by Mr. Ogaga Maxwell after which light refreshment was taken.

The next day which was 14th March, 2008, we formerly closed the project in the host school, with the principal Mrs. Mathy Osaji thanking CLCWA for choosing her school for such a program and empowering young girls on basic ICT skills; she also presented some certificates on the assembly ground after which a group photograph was taken with participants, principal and some members of staff.

Challenges:
The challenges faced were quite minute but very significant which needed urgent responses to save each situation. The major challenge was the late arrival of funds from the supporting organization. Another challenge was the duration outlined for the course; it was too short for students who were learning about the computer for the first time. While the other issue had to do with the change in academic calendar as a result of public holidays; this made us make emergency readjustments.

Results:
At the end of this program, 28 students successfully completed the training and were given certificates out of the 30 students that applied for the program. They all have functional email addresses and are TIG members. This has increased the number of computer literate students in AGGS by 28. It was a successful project.

Recommendation/Conclusion:
The CLCWA project is the best for our time and should be implemented in every secondary school if possible. We recommend that more days be allocated to ICT basics for better understanding for new students of the computer. The participants are happy, they promise to use the newly acquired skills productively after the program. The project has also increased awareness of stakeholders on the importance of ICT in development of every sector.
Appreciation
We want to begin by thanking the National Coordinator, CLCWA in Nigeria, Mr. Jerry Nwigwe for his commitment to bridging the digital divide. The TIG-CLCWA team is not left out, you will not believe the positive impact you have made in the life of 28 girls-thanks a million.
We want to thank the state coordinator and his deputy for their help and assistance on the project. The volunteers of Inspiro Communications and Media were wonderful, thank you.

We want to specially appreciate the Principal and staff of Asaba Girls Grammar School for their cooperation and absolute trust and belief in the project.
The management and staff of Merit computer technology, thanks for your subsidy and technical assistance.

Together we believe we can make this world a better place.

Isikwenu Oghenefego.
Project Manger, Asaba.


March 24, 2008 | 6:30 AM Comments  0 comments

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DELTA YOUTH SUMMIT 2008 DECLARATION
Related to country: Nigeria

Translations available in: English (original) | French | Spanish | Italian | German | Portuguese | Swedish | Russian | Dutch | Arabic

THE ASABA YOUTH DECLARATION

On the 18th and 19th of January, 2OO8, the Delta Change Network (DCN) a non-partisan, non-profit-making and non-governmental organization hosted Delta Youth Summit captioned ‘’Exploring the Potentials of Youths in Development’’. This maiden summit, which was flagged-off in Asaba by the Honorable Commissioner, Directorate of Youth Development, Rev. (Mrs.) Omatsola Williams, featured paper presentations, plenary sessions, workshops, and working group sessions.

During the working group discussions, we the young people of Delta State deliberated on key issues on the following thematic areas; the environmental sustainability, infrastructural development, Human Capital Development, Health, ICT and Good Governance. All our discussions were centered on the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and the -3-Point agenda of the Delta State government; Human Capital Development, Infrastructural Development and Peace and Conflict Resolution.

After this two day process we submit the following:

The Environment
We are aware of the amount of environmental degradation that has taken place in the Niger Delta since oil was discovered. We therefore say that;
- The impact of Oil Exploration on our environment poses the need for the state government to monitor the execution of regulatory polices and laws on gas flaring and oil spillages. More importantly, the state government should play active part in advocating for zero-gas flaring.
- The government should strengthen and effectively monitor the activities of the Delta State Oil Mineral Producing Areas Commission (DESOPADEC) to ensure that 1) Host communities are recognized for development projects.2) There is transparency in the awards and implementation of development projects. We also recommend that Independent Organizations i.e. Civil Society Organizations, NGOs and CBO be included in the monitoring of DESOPADEC projects.

- The state government set up a special commission to access the impact and externalities of oil exploration on the state since the inception of oil exploration for two reasons 1) To develop a holistic and time-relevant approach to solving the environment problems of the state.2)For documentation and be made available online.
- Policies should be made to stop indiscriminate bush burning and deforestation.


Infrastructural Development
The young people of Delta State are very much aware of the state of existing infrastructure in the state. We are also aware that for the state to attract local and foreign investor, it must pay attention the development of key infrastructure. We therefore declare that;

- The government pat attention to existing road networks within the state commercial centers and growing business districts and open more link roads where necessary.
- The government should pay urgent attention to power supply. We recommend that the state explore other sources of clean energy like solar to support the existing power capacity in the state.

- The government adopts the Public –Private Partnership approach in developing her infrastructure.

- All citizens of the state should respect and protect public facilities.



Health

- Youth vulnerability to HIV/AIDS and other preventable diseases calls for government’s attention to providing youth-friendly Voluntary Counseling and Testing (VCT) centers for free anti-retroviral drugs.

- Sex education should be included in the school curriculum.

- It important to promote the African culture which supports abstinence.
- On the other hand traditional practices like female genital mutilation should be fought against with the instruments of power.

Entrepreneurship
We are aware of the rate of unemployment in Nigeria and Delta State in particular.

Resolving the Unemployment question through Entrepreneurship, calls for both individual and government participation.

- The government should implement policies that are youth-friendly and promote access to bank loans for young people through the microfinance scheme.

- Engaging young people in skills and capacity building programmes towards empowerment.

- Local and Foreign investors should be encouraged to set up businesses in the state so as to create jobs.

- Entrepreneurship Research and Development Centre should be developed in all the senatorial districts and affiliated to the various higher institutions in the state. To teach youth’s business start up skill.
- More publicity should be given to The National Directorate of Employment (NDE) and its programmes should be made more attractive to young people.

Good Governance

The role of Good Governance in Accelerating Development calls for the government to foster constitutional enlightenment from the grassroots and create a democratic atmosphere for youths to explore their potentials in governance and development.

- All public office holders be more transparent and accountable to the public.
- Government policies should be subjected to public opinion/debate.
- The issue of corruption and ethnicity in political appointments should be fought against. The state should set up an independent anti-corruption committee and it should include traditional rulers and Civil Society Organizations.
- We recommend that the appointment of key public officers should be subjected to public debate.
- The legislature should effectively play its role not just as a law making body but as a watch dog on the activities of the executive arm.

Gender and Human Rights

Creating a balance in gender and human rights is an issue requiring urgent attention therefore;
- All stakeholders must join hands in promoting awareness campaigns against gender bias.
- All traditional practices that discriminates against women should be abolished.
- Deltans should be educated on their fundamental rights.
- Cases of Indiscriminate arrest, detention and abuse of citizens should be visited by the government. The state Judiciary should also visit the cases of innocent prisoners and those whose term have expired yet they are still in prison.

ICT

We agree that youths in the state are backward when it comes to ICT. Therefore we recommend;
- Computer education be included in primary and secondary school curriculum.
- Those digital centers be established in all local government areas of the state.
- That the activities of Project E-Delta be reviewed and upgraded to reach out to the grassroot. And should be adequately monitored and manned by the right professionals.

General

We the young people of Delta State recommend the following;
1. The establishment of a Youth Task Force to help in the implementing monitoring and evaluation of the 3-Point Agenda.
2. That the state create a special website for the ministry of youths and upload all relevant documents so young Deltans the world over can access them. We also recommend that the same be done to other ministries.
3. The state implement a zero gas flaring policy and kick against unhealthy method of oil-exploration in the region.










MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNIQUE DRAFTING COMMITTEE

Isikwenu Oghenefego-Chairperson
Osakwe C. Wisdom-Secretary
Aigbe O. Samson-Member
Nwibe Ikechukwu David-Member
Eseoghene Dinah Iboribo-Member
Charles Ugbome-Member
Ochem Chidi-Member
Rume Thompson-Member
Okonta Emeka Okelum-Member
Maxwell Ogaga-Member
David Enomah-Member

Reviewed and Edited By Timothy Ogene-Local Organizing Committee Chairman for Delta Youth Summit 2008