Convocation sets agenda for national, global youth development

A comprehensive youth policy that would address issues concerning various categories of youths all over the globe towards repositioning them to play a meaningful role in national development has been identified as what should be the primary focus of governments in every nation, including Nigeria.

The idea entrenched in a communiqué issued at the end of a five-day youth convocation targeted at teenagers, campus students, corps members, young adults as well as strong, talented and enterprising youthful population across the globe took place at Deeper Life International Conference Centre, Lagos/Ibadan Expressway with the theme: ‘Impact 2022’.

The global youth convocation was convened by the General Superintendent, Deeper Christian Life Ministry, Pastor (Dr.) William Kumuyi with notable facilitators brought in to empower the youth which includes former Chairman, First Bank, Ibukun Awosika, an entrepreneur, Founder and General Partner, Future Africa, Iyinoluwa Aboyeji and guest music minister, Dunsin Oyekan.

The communiqué, which enjoins government and other stakeholders to prioritise fundamental issues affecting the youth generally, says that: “Transformation agenda must characterise this goal as well as similar global youth-focused initiatives with a view to addressing the ills in the world of youths.” The void in the social life of youths must be addressed by entrenching civic, moral and ethical values in the educational curriculum, adding that governments in all nations should prioritise the identified youth-specific targets in the Agenda 2030, while the global community should specifically focus on them in future global agenda.

“Government at all levels are asked to mainstream youth development initiatives, fund and implement more youth-focused intervention programmes.”

The convocation resuscitated the need to equip youths with appropriate secular education, soft and life skills to prepare them for positive engagement in formulating and implementing policies meant for their social category, a move that acknowledges and appreciates the vision, passion and commitment of the convener.

It was also noted that periodic events such as impact 2022, should be encouraged as a platform to re-engage the youth, refocus their latent talents and energies with a view to giving them a voice.

A teenager, Philip Isaac, who was at the programme said Impact 2022 will certainly metamorphose a monumental change in the life of the youth in the nation because it succeeded in positively affecting their mindset through the ministration of facilitators as well as the convener who defined ‘Impact’ as allowing God to interrupt in our lives for us to live a purposeful life, moving from the life of mediocrity to be an achiever, ‘M” for moving forward, “P” for a purposeful life, ‘A’ for action, ‘C’ for coping and ‘T’ for transformation.

Two undergraduates, Priscilla and Phebe Olayiwonuola, said the programme addressed the specific needs of the youth and was very impactful with the facilitators as well as the convener touching lives.

A youth leader, Timothy Adekeye, described the programme as an eye-opener as he commended the convener for bringing such facilitators that the youth could not come across easily.

Charity Aremu, who has just gained admission into an institution of higher learning, described the programme as one that will have a permanent positive impact on the lives of the youth across the globe.