Deputy Chief Executive Officer of the National Youth Authority (NYA), Mrs Akosua Manu, has called on government to investing in the youth. According to her, the implementation of youth policy provides a good framework for investing in the young people.
Mrs. Manu made these remarks at the opening ceremony of a Conflict Prevention and Peacebuilding training programme for the youth. This program was organized by the West African Network of Young Women Leaders.
She revealed that, government has admirably shown clear commitment to young people via various initiatives.
“… That has given opportunity to thousands of young people to contribute meaningfully to society. The various entrepreneurship programmes that offer seed capital for brilliant ideas, the investment of millions of dollars into these entrepreneurship projects and support schemes for small scale businesses.
“We have a duty to create a nation where young people, no matter where they are from, can thrive. Today, we are fortunate that people are just speaking up. If we fail to take this opportunity and invest more meaningfully in the lives of young people; the anger of tomorrow will be more costly”.
Investing in the youth
Additionally, Mrs. Manu further highlighted the need to invest in the youth via the implementation of programs. This, she explained, will help transition the youth progressively into making something meaningful of their lives.
“We need to also accelerate programs like, the national youth volunteers’ program by the National Youth Authority. Continue the creation of industries to absorb the growing workforce; support the private sector to provide decent jobs and importantly, step up policies to restore the economic growth beyond pre-COVID levels”.
Also, Mrs Manu emphasized the role of the Authority in creating policy and carrying out public education campaigns. To achieve this, she disclosed that her outfit seek to engage the youth and instil in them, civic duty as a core component.
Additionally, she revealed that the NYA has introduced innovative youth parliaments to create platforms for discourse. The pltform, she revealed, is necessary in providing outlets for the youth to vent their frustrations on key issues.
“It is in this light that we have established youth parliaments all over the country. To create platforms for discourse and to remodel the next generation of leaders who would understand the importance of quality communication”.
Fix the country campaign
Touching on some key issue raised by the youth, Mrs. Manu disclosed that, the #FixTheCountry campaign has revealed the vibrancy of the young population yearning for more opportunities to participate in nation building.
Mrs Manu believes this is a great opportunity to assess the country’s commitment to “our young people”.
“What we should not take for granted, are the frustrations the youth have been drawing our attention to in the past week”.
In concluding, she further urged the youth to not be limited to the instantaneous transfer of knowledge.
“To the youth gathered here, I implore you and charge you to go all out and make a difference with all the ideas you will pick up here. Be agents of peace and change, live and breathe the peace and change, and be folded by peace and change”.
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