The President of the Asiwaju Dapo Wahab Foundation, an NGO championing the fight against drug abuse in our society, Alhaji Asiwaju Dapo Wahab has enjoined the nation's leaders not to allow poverty, unemployment, lack of education and other challenges confronting the youth to continue to debar them from contributing their quotas to "our collective progress".
Asiwaju Wahab said, rather, the nation's leaders should endeavor to recognize the youths' innate potentials and tap into their energy, creativity, and passion in order to reduce youth restiveness and promote peace in the country.
Delivering a lecture at the 2024 Leadership Capacity Building Retreat for members of the Ogun State Police Community Relations Committee (PCRC), on Galvanizing Community Youths for Security and Development held at De Swan Exquisite Hotel & Suite, Magboro, Ogun State, during the week, Asiwaju Wahab, a former Director, Media and Publicity of the PCRC emphasized that the youth are not just the future, but the present drivers of change in our communities.
In his lecture entitled: "Empowering Community Youths: A Catalyst for Security and Developument", Asiwaju Wahab insisted that "to galvanize community youths for security and development, we must first understand the factors that militate against their participation. We must recognize the obstacles that prevent them from contributing their quota to our collective progress".
"Poverty, unemployment, and lack of education are just a few of the challenges that our youths face today. But we must not allow these challenges to define us. Instead, we must empower our youths to become drivers of change.
We must also recognize their potential and tap into their energy, creativity, and passion", he noted.
Asiwaju Wahab, an Ogun State based businessman and the Treasurer of the Abeokuta Chamber Of Commerce Industry Mine And Agriculture (ABEOCCIMA) identified five key strategies, which he said should be considered, to help the youth to achieve their potentials in moving the nation forward.
These are:
1. Mentorship: Pair youths with positive role models and mentors who can guide and support their growth.
2. Skills Development: Provide training and resources to enhance their skills and employability.
3. Inclusive Decision-Making: Involve youths in decision-making processes and listen to their perspectives.
4. Community Engagement: Encourage youths to take ownership of community projects and initiatives and
5. Collaborative Partnerships: Foster partnerships between youths, community leaders, and stakeholders to leverage resources and expertise.
Asiwaju Wahab pointed out that empowering community youths is a matter of priority as this is the only way to reduce youth restiveness and promote peace and also foster a sense of ownership and responsibility.
It will also help to develop future leaders and change-makers as well as enhance community cohesion, social capital and drive innovation and entrepreneurship, he noted.
The President of Asiwaju Dapo Wahab Foundation also pointed out that if youths are empowered, they could serve as Conflict mediators and peace-builders, Community watchdogs and intelligence gatherers as well as Partners in crime prevention and safety initiatives.
He also pointed out that in development, empowered youths can drive: Innovation and entrepreneurship, Community development projects and initiatives as well as Social mobilization and advocacy
Asiwaju Wahab buttressed his points by pointing out that both the Quran and the Bible, the two most revered holy books, place significant emphasis on the importance of empowering and mobilizing youth for the purposes of achieving security and promoting development.
"This shared emphasis underscores the critical role that young people play in shaping the future of our communities and societies", he noted.
Asiwaju Wahab implored all in the positions of leadership in the country to be committed to creating enabling environments that support youth empowerment and unleash their potentials to drive positive change.
In his response, the Ogun State Chairman of the PCRC, High Chief Samson Kunle Popoola expressed appreciation of his organization for the lecture which he said would go a long way in promoting peace and security in the state.
He assured Asiwaju Wahab that his organization would spare no efforts in ensuring that youths in the state are carried along in decision making as they are the hope of the nation's future.
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