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July 4, 2020Curbing Youth Criminality and Social Vices Amidst Covid-19
The Nigerian Youth Compact on Covid-19 (NYCC-19) had there Zoom webinar “One Stop Youth Talk” on Thursday, 2nd July, 2020.
It was a very successful and interactive session with some guest speakers such as; the Executive director, Youth Advancement Initiative, Akure ‘Mr. Ado Mario Emmanuel’, President and Executive Director of Nigeria Female Youth Organization/ Michelle Youth Initiative for Sustainable Development ‘Princess Mimi’ and the immediate General Secretary for the Association of Resident Doctors, FCT Branch ‘Dr, Jumoke Olajumoke’.
The webinar centered on “Curbing Youth Criminality and Social Vices Amidst Covid-19”. The chairman of NYCC-19 giving his opening remark during the 4th Edition of this webinar said that criminality is interwoven with unemployment which is the major causal factor.
According to him, the youths are being deprived of basic necessities of life and hardly does anyone see it as much of a problem. However, the government is at fault by failing to fulfil the basic responsibilities towards a very significant percentage of the population but those who are in a position reprimand the government are also at fault for not considering that failure as a serious issue.
Still on remark, the Vice chairman ‘Prince Echem’ said “An Idle man is the devil’s workshop which is why the NYCC-19 is out to help to assist in curbing these criminalities.” He urged the Nigerians to live within the confirms of the law.
Princess Michelle speaking on social vices defined it as negative action against the norms in the society. She listed the various social vices like raping, pick-pocketing, drug abuse, exam malpractices, prostitution etc. and condemned it.
She heads an NGO campaign against Rape. In her speech, She said “most people who indulge in the act of rape do that to take away the dignity of the victim.”
However, she stated that a bill has been passed against rapist which means a rapist gets the same punishment as a murderer. Her campaign has gotten to the ministry of women affairs and the presidency. She also stated the dangers of drug abuse and urge youth to use their talents wisely and abstain from social vices.
Doctor Jumoke Olajumoke speaking on the Medical implications of rape to its victim said;
“it may be a 5 mins for the rapist but a lifetime for the victim”.
She spoke about the genital laceration, internal injury, STDs and STI.
However, she stated that some victims find themselves doing drugs as a result of depression. Therefore, she suggested that victims should talk to someone like a psychologist instead of venturing into drugs.
The Executive director, Youth Advancement Initiative ‘Ado Mario’ speaking on insecurity stated that 90% of police cases these days are home breaking while 60% of the culprits are as a result of hunger and joblessness due to unemployment.
He pointed out the effect of lockdown on the Nigerian youths and suggested that the government should liaise with NYCC-19 since they have the data of unemployed youths across the 774 L.G.A. in the 36 states and address the lacuna in the security structure in Nigeria.
Speaking further, He also suggested that government should provide more welfare for the security personnel who have turned beggars on the road. According to him, survey has shown that 60% of security personnel are culprits in supplying vital information to these criminals due to lack of proper welfare structure.
According to him “there is no thief in the community that the community members do not know but they have the fear of voicing out or getting someone arrested is their actual concern.”
“Most of these criminals have genuine pressing challenges which led them into these social vices.” He said.
However, he is advocating for a welfare package restructuring for the Nigerian youth and as well engage them jobwise as this will help curb these criminalities.
Amb. Ikenna Nwaizu, a youth leader commended the NYCC-19 for organizing the “One Stop Youth Talk” Webinar. He suggested that youths should wake up and take responsibilities for their future. He urged youths to be strategic in the rightful application for the fight of the youth integration in politics and national leadership.
Pointing out the lapses in some government initiatives for the youths such as N-power, Engr. Matthew Oche suggested that the government should provide youths with a permanent job engagement so that the youths will not go back to the streets again as this will also help curb the issues of criminality.
Mr. Uzoh Ifeanyi, member of the Commonwealth Youth Alliance Association and Head of Advisory NYCC-19 urges the Nigerian youths to look inward to discover their inborn talents that will announce them in future.
In closing, the moderator gave some recommendation to the government which will go a long way to curb these social vices;
- Inclusion and collaboration between the government and youths
- Youth engagement in local and public affairs including programs
- Giving youths the opportunity to design the youth centric programs for the citizenry
- Redesign new and affordable learning curriculum to accommodate the current realities.
- Allow youths interact in open forum with their counterparts across the society
- Relaxation of Government rules on youths’ access to opportunities
- Set up Mentoring programs for youths headed by average age achievers
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