ELOHIM DEVELOPMENT FOUNDATION CELEBRATES YOUTH DAY
Elohim Foundation, Youth Day
ERDOO DUE
Following the international youth day celebration on Wednesday 12th August 2020 Elohim foundation held a one-day inn house youth development meeting to identify and strategize possible ways for youth involvement in developmental strides titled ‘ Youth participation in community development.’
In an address of welcome, the Executive Director Dr. Victoria Daaor appreciated all participants. She acknowledged that, their quest for growth is one key factor for the prompt response within a short notice. She also stated that the organization had put forth a short clip which cover most activities of Youth within Benue state and that served as a focal point for discussion.
Raymond Jooli, Programmes Manager Elohim Foundation acknowledged the need for a comprehensive approach to understanding the challenges hindering youth from active participation in community development. This elicited reactions from participants.
According to Kengkeng Ati, there are a lot of factors that hinder youth from living their dreams: “Lack of partnership is really biting hard on most of our youth; this is because competition has become the order of the day, no one is willing and ready to support another person, and so partnership is the only way out. Another factor is inconsistency and lack of patience. I use myself as an example here being a youth in politics. I nursed politics for a long time with the hope that someday I will get something in the society but how many youths are ready to do that? Everyone wants it “sharp sharp” and that is a challenge to us.”
For Joy Itodo Tradition and culture have had a big hindrance on youth in community development “most decisions taken in the society are done by elders exempting youth so their opinions are not always represented. Religion on its part has consumed a lot of ideas owing to the fact that ethics of most churches segregate what youth would really want to explore.”
Nguseer Torbunde said “education and civilization has adversely affected our development as youth. Most people are schooled but not educated this is because education is beyond classroom learning it can either be formal or informal. This has to do with awareness and knowledge on new trends, happenings and ways of tackling challenges.”
Joseph Gbagyo Esq emphasized ego and pride as one of the most challenging factors for youth. In his words “Pride has killed many potential Entrepreneurs. To some, it is because of their educational qualification while others are plague by ignorance of entrepreneurship and financial knowledge.”
On his part Barnabas Ahula said “Lack of funds is one major challenge youths are facing, many people have the ideas but lack funds to convert them to reality this can be attributed greatly to government policies where youth are basically excluded.”
Other factors enlisted included lack of mentorship, Consistency, purpose and integrity on the part of Youth.
On the way forward, Kenneth Abo said “mentorship is the way out of all these, people need to be given both formal and informal education and mentorship this is achievable through sensitization.”
The quest for humility is one other thing that can propagate youth to the desired level of societal development and influence as rightly noted by all participants present.
