NORTH CENTRAL ZONE YOUTH POSITION PAPER TO THE NEEDS 2 CONSULTATIVE MEETING IN MAKURDI


DEFINATION OF YOUTH
As stated by the African youth Charter and the Nigerian Youth Policy, a youth is someone between the ages of 18 and 35. Hence a Nigerian youth will be someone between those ages and who is a citizen of Nigeria

At a growth rate of 2.8% per annum, as at the last count, the nation’s population stood at 140 million in 2006. Based on the last population census conducted in 2006, the nation’s population is predominantly young i.e. one out of every four (4) Nigerians is under 25 years of age. This puts the youth population at about 55% of the total population.

NEEDS

The National Economic Empowerment and Development Strategy (NEEDS) was developed and hope to achieve Employment Generation, Poverty Reduction, Wealth Creation and Value Re-orientation. It is also recognised youth as active and volatile. Areas of interventions targeting youths included among others education, skills acquisition, protection and control of HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted infections However, NEEDS did not acknowledge young people as important stakeholders, capable and who can be very productive if the right situations and environment prevailed.

Youths in the North Central Zone of Nigeria feel that the National Economic Empowerments and Development Strategy 2 (NEEDS 2) should seek to achieve;

1. As a top priority seek in increase access to affordable health care services including sexual and reproductive health information and education
2. Empowerment of young people with life skills to help them achieve their dreams, think critically, negotiate risky situations, and express themselves freely
3. Encourage and provide opportunities for young people actively and meaningfully participate in development issues.
4. Hold high their rights especially girls, handicapped and other marginalized groups

And as such recommend that

1. The Language of the NEEDS should be simplified.
2. The NEEDS should state specifically the establishment of youth related mechanism i.e. The Nigerian Youth Expert Panel to work with monitoring committees on the NEEDS and SEEDS to ensure that youth specific indicators are being implemented and track level of success.
3. The Establishment of a NEEDS Trust Fund where the private sector will contribute into and 50% of such funds be used for the development of young people
4. Government at all levels should provide free and accessible education of good quality for primary and secondary schools
5. Being in an ICT age, ICT education should be encouraged and be integrated at all level of education
5. Make Micro Finance more accessible to young people to enable them in starting
private businesses.
6 Reserve quotas for youth participation in political and policy development processes
a. Include youth in delegations to national and international meetings on issues affecting them.
b. Engage youth as professionals and not just as recipients of agendas