Comrade Ayodele Olawande, Nigeria’s Minister of Youth Development, reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to peace in the Niger Delta during a multi-stakeholder meeting in Abuja. The event, organized with key stakeholders, aimed to foster dialogue and explore strategies for tackling violence and promoting stability. The Minister emphasized the importance of community involvement, particularly the roles of youth and women, in driving positive change in the region.
Nigeria’s Minister of Youth Development, Comrade Ayodele Olawande, has reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to fostering lasting peace and security in the Niger Delta region. This statement was made during the One-Day Multi-Stakeholder Consultative Engagement on the Niger Delta in Abuja, where the Minister was represented by Mr. Obinna Nwaka, the Director General of the Committee of Youth on Mobilization and Sensitization (CYMS).
The event gathered an array of stakeholders, including government officials, security agencies, civil society groups, and representatives from youth and women’s organizations, and was organized by Search for Common Ground (SFCG), Stakeholder Democracy Network (SDN), and the Partnership Initiative for the Niger Delta (PIND), with backing from the European Union.
Comrade Olawande commended the organizing bodies for facilitating dialogue among diverse stakeholders, highlighting the event as a vital step toward sustainable peace in the Niger Delta. He noted the necessity of community-driven strategies to effectively address ongoing security challenges and criminal activities in the region.
The primary goal of the meeting was to share insights from the “Community-Centered Approach to Transforming Criminality and Violence in the Niger Delta” project while exploring peace promotion strategies. The Minister underscored the strides made in addressing local challenges and urged collaboration on solutions that resonate with both regional and global peacebuilding practices.
“This engagement provides an invaluable opportunity to exchange knowledge, ideas, and locally relevant strategies to combat violence and criminality in the Niger Delta,” he stated. He emphasized the crucial role of youth and women’s groups in fostering positive transformation within their communities.
Furthermore, the Minister reaffirmed the Federal Ministry of Youth Development’s dedication to backing the outcomes from the discussions. He encouraged stakeholders to persist in their joint efforts to implement strategies for turning the region into a model of peace and prosperity.
In his address, Comrade Olawande also expressed full support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration, particularly concerning security, job creation, and education initiatives within the Niger Delta. He assured attendees of the Ministry’s commitment to enhancing the President’s initiatives through various programs, including the National Integrated Youth Agency (NIYA) and the Nigerian Youth Investment Fund (NYIF).
In conclusion, Comrade Olawande called for unified stakeholder collaboration to ensure that the outcomes of the consultative engagement yield meaningful and actionable results for the Niger Delta. This meeting represents a proactive step towards building a peaceful future, emphasizing youth empowerment as pivotal to the region’s transformation.
In summary, the Minister of Youth Development reiterated the government’s unwavering commitment to establishing enduring peace in the Niger Delta. By emphasizing community-driven initiatives and collaboration among stakeholders, the event aimed to develop effective strategies to combat violence and enhance regional stability. The support for youth and women’s participation underscores the critical role they play in the region’s transformation, aligning efforts with overarching national objectives. Ultimately, the consultative engagement serves as a foundation for continued dialogue and proactive measures towards creating a secure and prosperous Niger Delta.
Original Source: von.gov.ng
