10/08/2026
Aha! Social Media doesn't forget. It's a year and a decade ago and this pops up. My God, it's just grace seeing the journey God has brought one through. Even in this frail frame God gave us a voice and even the government sought to hear what wisdom and solution one had to offer. I had the privilege of being invited as Keynote Speaker by the Benue State Government to present this paper on occasion of . Frame 2 the SSG and I who was delegated by the Executive Governor to represent him as he just left to see the President over an emergency. Not knowing all about the event he questioned why I had to be brought all the way from Abuja to present, when other young people were on ground. We debated over the fact that I was born and bred in Benue, though he disagreed on account of the way I sounded, even so that we had such young and focused Benue Youth who stayed professional and apolitical. That's how he offered to and hosted me in his office afterwards.
Young people must arise and take their place, occupy their space and stop asking for permission to be all they can be. Don't let no one despise your youth. Just a paper presentation from the archives...
A PAPER PRESENTATION ON YOUTH CIVIC ENGAGEMENT FOR TRANSFORMATIONAL CHANGE
On the Occasion of the 2015 International Youth Day Celebration in Benue State_
By: Mr. George S. Songu, Coordinator, ILEAD
Date: 14th August, 2015
Venue: J.S. Tarka Foundation, Makurdi
INTRODUCTION
This paper provides a bird’s-eye view of youth interaction with the civilized world.
“We live in an age when to be young and to be indifferent can no longer be synonymous. We must prepare for the coming hour. The claims of the future are represented by suffering millions; and the youth of a nation are the trustees of posterity.”
Benjamin Disraeli (1804–1881)
Furthermore, this paper focuses on the pivotal role of youth in the growth and development of the state and nation when they are meaningfully engaged.
Every year on 12th August, youth around the world come together to celebrate International Youth Day. It is not only a time for celebration, but also a time to reflect on pressing issues in youth development across the globe and to chart new courses that will impact communities. It is also a time to acknowledge and reward the major achievements recorded by young people in Nigeria and around the world.
In Nigeria, Benue State is not left out of these celebrations and activities. This year’s theme is: “Youth Civic Engagement.” International Youth Day is geared toward bringing to the limelight the issues confronting youth across the globe.
IYD is designed to awaken governments, the country, and the general public to the situation and condition of youth, and to elicit the necessary action and coordinated response from government, NGOs, and the private sector.
On 17th December, the United Nations General Assembly, through Resolution 54/120, endorsed the recommendation of the World Conference of Ministers of Youth (held in Lisbon from 8–12 August 1998) that 12th August be declared International Youth Day. The UN International Youth Day is observed annually to celebrate the achievements of the world’s youth and to encourage their participation in enhancing society. The event aims to promote ways to engage youth in making positive contributions to their communities.
21st-century youth face many challenges: poverty, unemployment, HIV and AIDS, other diseases, wars and conflicts, political instability, bad governance, natural disasters, and the inability to meet basic needs for survival, health, and clothing. The far-reaching consequences include insecurity — such as youth recruitment into Boko Haram — high crime rates, prostitution, societal delinquency, loss of social norms and values, unwanted pregnancies, abortion, r**e, cultism, armed robbery, drug abuse, corruption, and other social vices.
It is against this backdrop that youth in Benue State must come together in synergy to seek redress for these myriad issues. Youth cannot do this alone, nor can the Ministry of Youth and the government. There is a need to join forces to put in place the necessary structures and programs that will facilitate the rapid development of youth.
“One has not started living until he has broken out of the narrow confines of his individualistic concerns to the concerns of the larger society.”
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
DEFINITION OF KEY TERMS
Youth:
The National Youth Policy (2006) defines youth as persons aged 18–35 years. The African Youth Charter defines youth as persons between 14–35 years.
Civic Engagement:
Civic engagement connotes components of youth development and youth leadership, including:
1. Engaging young people in social, political, religious, educational, and awareness activities.
2. Building skills and capacity for power analysis and action around issues young people face.
3. Helping young people build a collective identity as social change agents.
4. Engaging young people in advocacy and negotiation.
Youth Civic Engagement:
The UN Programme on Youth defines youth engagement as the active and meaningful involvement of young people in all aspects of their own and their communities’ development, including their empowerment to contribute to decisions about their personal, family, social, economic, and political development.
How do Youth Engage with Themselves, Government, and Other Stakeholders?
- Be non-judgmental
- Acknowledge and support their choices
- Meet youth where they are and know what stage of change they are in
- Focus on developing resilience: reducing risk factors and enhancing protective factors
- Promote competence and support self-efficacy and skills development
- Build on their strengths: talents, skills, knowledge, and coping strategies
- Empathize with young people
- Do not argue with them
- Provide a safe and supportive space/environment
- Refer to appropriate services and programs
- Be self-aware: understand your values, morals, and beliefs about drugs and youth drug use
- Ask open-ended questions to encourage dialogue
- Provide options other than substance use
- Educate them about the potential harms of drug use
- Use technology, as the internet is a tool youth are comfortable with
Levels of Engagement and Participation
_Based on Roger Hart’s Ladder of Participation_
Level 1: Information-sharing – Youth are informed of policies and activities decided by decision-makers.
Level 2: Consultation – Decision-makers decide when and on what topics youth are consulted.
Level 3: Youth-initiated consultation – Youth can propose subjects, but have no decision-making power.
Level 4: Shared decision-making – Adults and young people share decision-making power.
Level 5: Youth autonomy – Young people initiate and run projects themselves.
This model moves away from manipulation and tokenism toward youth-initiated and youth-owned programs.
FACTORS UNDERMINING EFFECTIVE YOUTH ENGAGEMENT
Nigeria’s youth are faced with numerous challenges: corruption, poverty, unemployment, physical and mental disabilities, HIV/AIDS, other diseases, wars, human rights abuses, political instability, bad governance, natural disasters, and poor health systems. Top of the list is endemic corruption.
1. Endemic Corruption
Transparency International ranked Nigeria 144th out of 177 countries on the Corruption Perceptions Index. In 2012, a Gallup poll found that 94% of Nigerians believed corruption was widespread in government. Billions of dollars in political corruption proceeds are stashed in foreign accounts. In 2013, the Central Bank of Nigeria reported that 76% of crude oil revenue meant for the federation account was unaccounted for.
2. High Level of Youth Unemployment
Unemployment in Nigeria stands at about 23.9%, with youth unemployment accounting for over 50%. The problem is structural, driven by policy distortions and poor governance. In March 2014, 16 people were killed in stampedes when 500,000 job-seekers applied for fewer than 5,000 vacancies at the Nigeria Immigration Service.
3. Poor Standard of Education
The Nigerian education system compares poorly even with other African countries like Ghana and South Africa. In 1997 and 2000, federal expenditure on education was below 10% of the budget. In 2013, ₦426.53 billion was allocated to education — only 8.67% of the total budget of ₦4.92 trillion. UNESCO recommends 26%. This underfunding accounts for poor standards, examination malpractice, and low-quality graduates.
4. Insecurity and Violence
The Boko Haram insurgency has severely threatened national security. In 2014, 276 Chibok schoolgirls were kidnapped. Human Rights Watch estimated that 2,053 people were killed in 95 Boko Haram-related attacks in the first half of 2014 alone. Over 50 deaths were also recorded during the last general elections.
WAYS FORWARD FOR EFFECTIVE AND SUSTAINABLE YOUTH ENGAGEMENT
1. Community Mobilization and Sensitization
Conventional and unconventional strategies should be used to re-orient youth and imbibe the right values. Town hall meetings and community dialogues can sensitize youth and stakeholders about opportunities. Social media can also be used to reach marginalized youth and women and encourage civic participation.
“Try not to become a man of success, but rather try to become a man of value.”
Albert Einstein
2. Stakeholder Ownership and Sustainability*
Long-term impact requires sustained programs with active participation of stakeholders, women, and youth from planning to implementation, monitoring, and evaluation.
3. Capacity Building
Programs should enhance youth capacity in leadership, entrepreneurship, and vocational skills. Government, NGOs, and the private sector must increase opportunities for civic engagement training.
4. Resource Mobilization
Sustainable mechanisms should be developed to empower youth. Partnerships with individuals, organizations, and international agencies can help. Youth grant and credit schemes such as YouWin, NAPEP, NDE, and others should be sustained.
Other Strategies:
- Create youth spaces for participation in politics: as party members, delegates, candidates, and voters.
- Provide ongoing training in civic participation.
- Organize forums for dialogue between youth and political representatives.
- Establish platforms for authentic youth voice, such as the Benue Youth Parliament.
- Involve youth in programs that build problem-solving and critical thinking: community mapping, participatory research, health outreaches.
- Support youth-run grant programs.
- Fund school service-learning programs such as LEAP: Learn, Earn, Academic, *P*rogramme.
- Organize youth competitions in sports, entrepreneurship, and skills: BBPC, Mark the Ball, INVENT.
- Host local, national, and international youth summits: YES, BETA Summit, ASSESS.
- Promote policies such as a State-wide Youth Bill of Rights.
CONCLUSION
Youth deserve the attention and support of all well-meaning individuals and stakeholders to achieve our shared goal of efficient economic systems that improve living standards and well-being, especially for women and children.
The economy can be more efficient if authorities train young people in line with market needs. Too many youth are studying courses with little relevance to societal needs. While many chase degrees for which there are no jobs, industries import technicians and even tile installers from Ghana, Benin, and Togo, and companies must retrain graduates to make them employable.
We urge all stakeholders to lend their voice and support to youth development in Benue State and Nigeria at large.
“What should young people do with their lives today? Many things, obviously. But the most daring thing is to create stable communities in which the terrible disease of loneliness can be cured.”
Kurt Vonnegut
Thank you, and God bless our youth, Benue, and Nigeria.
REFERENCES
1. National Youth Policy (2006). Federal Ministry of Youth Development.
2. Flanagan, C. & Levine, P. (2010). Civic Engagement and the Transition to Adulthood. The Future of Children.
3. National Conference of State Legislatures (2006).
Legisbrief: Engaging Young People in Legislatures.
4. Bloom, J. (2000). Youth Summits: Capturing Youth Voice in Public Policy Debates.
5. National League of Cities (2001). Promoting Youth Participation.
