List of youth empowerment programmes in Nigeria
There are no doubts that Nigeria is a nation where the opportunities are boundless. That is why today we can see a trend in different youth empowerment programmes. These will be of great help to the Nigerian youths as they grow to become the leaders of tomorrow. We also present you the list of youth empowerment programmes in Nigeria.
What is youth empowerment?
Youth empowerment is a process where children and young people are encouraged to take charge of their lives. They do this by addressing their situation and then take action in order to improve their access to resources and transform their consciousness through their beliefs, values and attitudes.
According to the National Bureau of Statistics, each year, about 1.8 million young Nigerians enter the labour market. Meanwhile, unemployment in Nigeria is estimated at 22 percent, while youth unemployment is significantly higher, at 38%, according to the World Bank. In addition to the detrimental effects of a nation’s economy, unemployment and poverty are the primary causes of addiction and substance abuse by teenagers and young adults in Nigeria according to NOI survey.
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Youth empowerment program
Today there are a lot of organizations like African Youth Empowerment-Nigeria (AYEN), Youth Empowerment Nigeria (YEN) and Youth Empowerment and Development Initiative (YEDI).
All of them are non-profit organizations established to address the gaps of diversity, empower youths in numerous areas of life, capacity building, youth involvement in service projects, civic engagement, philanthropy and decision-making of their communities. All projects reflect a commitment to investing in the lives of youth and are driven by individual initiative, teamwork, and youth-adult partnerships.
List of youth empowerment programmes in Nigeria
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1. Encouraging skill acquisition
2. Encouraging service-learning
3. Community projects and social action
4. Philanthropy
5. Youth-led research
6. Social entrepreneurship
7. Engaging youth as volunteers
8. Youth Employment Program
However, different organizations may have some specialties. For example, all YEN programs are youth-initiated and youth-led, with adult support for coordination and implementation.
To our knowledge, YEN provides one of the most extensive leadership training programs available to help youth develop both personal and teamwork skills for success in the real world. In addition to Basic and Advanced Leadership workshops, YEN youth put their training to task and gain invaluable experience as they work “in the field” through placements with community organizations and youth-led community change projects.
YEDI’s first program, the Grassroot Soccer West Africa program, is currently implemented in over 400 sites in Lagos, Akwa-Ibom and Ogun States and has had more than 60,000 graduates. The program adapted the highly efficient football for development model piloted by YEDI’s international NGO partner, Grassroot Soccer for Nigeria.
YEP is a mindset changing programme that has changed a good number of youths in the Niger-Delta region.
This project has helped in controlling the crises in Niger Delta by engaging idle youths in meaningful jobs.
This programme has created an avenue for poverty reduction in Niger-Delta region.
The project was co-funded by both UNDP, Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) and Delta State government.
The provision of education, scholarship offers and financial assistance in the areas of training tend to encourage the youngsters to get off the streets and into the classroom. Organizing and attending international conferences, seminars, workshops, expert group meetings and lectures on issues that affect youths such as HIV/AIDS and risky behaviour, gender education, HIV Prevention Education, Adolescent Pregnant prevention, Drug use and abuse, alcoholism, conflict prevention, and violence are also of paramount importance to these organizations.
That`s why the organizations listed above are so important for us and our future. Hope you or your children would also take part in such programmes!
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Source: Legit.ng
