Youth Engagement and Community Action

Denen Achussah

On 12th August, 2020, youth from across Kyan State Constituency converge on Mbadede Traditional Council Hall Ihugh. It was the occasion of the International Youth Day, a global event by the United 12th August every year to draw attention to issues that affect youth.

Humanitarian and development enthusiast Joseph Aondover Kogi, with support from Christopher Aondoakaa, Moses Kogi, Adela, Joseph Asen, John Anyuma Igbayima, Christopher Akaayar, Kwagh u Shor u Mbadede, Aayongo Cornelius, Lawrence Akwa, Mbakyongu Youth Forum and Jerome Amua, was able to bring youth of Kyan, for interaction. Resource persons were drawn from the academic, real estate and the clergy.

The assembly is targeted at putting Kyan youth on the spotlight for engagement at the community level; re-awaken Kyan youth for active participation and contribution to the socio-economic and political development of their communities and seek community based solutions.

We have got to a point that we can no longer leave matters of development in the hands of government alone. That is Kogi’s charge to the youth. Kogi seized the occasion to speak to Kyan youth on volunteer services and benefits. Local communities in Tivland had, in seeing development through individual and community development, products of selflessness.

In a bid to rekindle same, Kogi told the youth that volunteer service builds one’s capacity, résumé and provides opportunity for work; secures one’s job and gives experience. He named other advantages of volunteer service to include: giving peace of mind, with attendant health benefits.

He therefore, encouraged the young people to properly channel their energy, identify problems in their communities and how they can selflessly contribute to solving them.

“At any point in time young people decide to do what will benefit community, there are always elders to support them,” Kogi said while imploring youth to always direct their energy on useful ventures and experience happiness, good health and the “young people will prosper.”

He urged youth groups in Kyan to initiate projects in their communities and with genuine commitment; they will have support of elders and contribute to the development of their communities without waiting on the government.

Humanitarian priest the Rev. Fr. Solomon Ukeyima spoke with Kyan youth on the subject: “Youth and Inter-generational Partnerships in Responding to Community Challenges.”

He commended the organisers for seeking to re-orientate youth that “have been misled or misguided by elders who should give them guidance or proper mentorship.”

According to Fr. Ukeyima, calling out Kyaan youth to enlighten them about contemporary happenings and reorient them in order to better their tomorrow, is a priceless gift on World Youth International Day.

Fr. Ukeyima, who was represented by Simon Ayongul, observed that successful football teams abroad groom young talents in their academies, who succeed old generation of players in their ranks. He further expressed concern that unpreparedness on the part of youth for leadership has bred thuggery and other forms of social ills.

He suggested the need to step up action on informal avenues of meetings, communication and mentorship for a guaranteed inter-generational partnership in responding to community challenges.

Arc. Joe IKyaagba delivered incisive talk on the subject: Youth, Political Participation and Decision Making. To drive his message home, Arc Ikyaagba recollected the drive of the mission in the development of Tiv nation, which put up a new generation of Tiv intelligentsia, noting that it was the mission – NKST and Catholic that brought enlightenment through education and healthcare provision as they propagate the gospel.

He said there are several ways of political participation and urged the people to hold fast to their strengths, which could be economic, population or demographic. It is Arc. Ikyaagba’s contention that the youth have a big role to play in politics but the problem is that today’s youth are not united in achieving a common goal.

While encouraging the young to take challenges, he said people have different gifts in political participation. Some have ability to mobilise, others to speak (speech), others leadership, and others are technocrats and others have resources (money).

Arc. Ikyaagba encouraged the youth to be committed to networking, that way, they will be better positioned for effective political participation and decision making. Engaging in useful ventures, he noted would keep the youth from engaging in thuggery and other forms of social ills and criminal acts.

Arc. Ikyaagba further said lack of patience, insatiable quest for money and leadership are among other factors that affect the youth. He likened politics to the game of football, saying it is not the players that win the game; it is the coach. “The coach watches the game from the bench and when he sees the need for changes, the need to change tactics, he made them. Young people must therefore, be willing to be patient, subject themselves to mentorship and they will become ripe to take leadership positions.

“I pray that Kyaan youth realise and accept that the future is in their hands and they can cooperate and collaborate with you the older generation to make it good,” Arc Ikyaagba counseled.

Professor of Agriculture and Environmental Engineering, Simon Irtwange enlightened Kyan youth on the subject: Engineering Entrepreneurship and Essentials of Finance.

According to Prof Irtwange, Kyan youth are capable to be self reliant through agricultural production. “Government can only come in and help,” he said adding that “until communities realise themselves, help cannot come their way.”

Capital is an important factor of production and the expert encouraged youth to save, seek the help of family members, friends, relatives, private financiers to execute their business plans.

Yams production alone, Prof Irtwange said is a multi-million Naira business. One hectre of yam farm is capable of bringing One Million Five Hundred Thousand Naira in returns, Prof Irtwange said.

He implored the youth to organise themselves, maintain links and network in order to be in touch so that they will always be abreast of events and programmes that benefit them

This very sub topic was handled by the Rev Fr. Moses Tyonum. He emphasised the need to for the youth to acquire the right form of training. This training, he said, is the duty of parents; to give their children right from when they are at infancy. He urged youth to avoid sex practices that are harmful for their health and spiritual life.

The idea for Kyan Youth International Day is enjoying the support and blessing of the Vandeikya traditional council. Keenly, traditional rulers in the area and elders, sit with the youth listening to talks during the assembly.

At the 2020 Kyan Youth International Day, HRH Augustine Aule, Mue Ter Kyan represented the Ter Kunav HRH Nyiyongu Achiaku. He encouraged the youth to embrace education and subject themselves to the teachings of elders and be mentored for effective political participation and decision making.

From the contributions and questions put forward at the occasion from youth, one thing is clear: Dearth of support for useful course.

“If our leaders think that political participation is important for the young people they ought to support the younger ones to grow. Unfortunately, there is lack of support to the youth and it is a hindrance for the youth to achieving their potentials,” Solomon Aanjira, Director Uncle N Production told the assembly.

He expressed concern that patronage of thugs has made it lucrative at the expense of support for people who are struggling through legitimate means to make ends meet.

Joseph Aondover Kogi charged youth groups within Kyan State Constituency to take action to solve problems within their communities. “As you go back, identify problems within your community and set out to solve them. Do not wait on anybody; you can do it,” Kogi charged.