Denmark, UNODC Partner Bayelsa State Government to Launch Youth Empowerment Programme

By: Michael Mike

The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), in partnership with the Bayelsa State Government and with support from the Government of Denmark has launched the Youth Peace Champions programme in Bayelsa State.

The programme, which marks a significant stride in empowering young Nigerians as drivers of sustainable peace, is a strategic expansion that brings a proven, youth-led peacebuilding model, celebrated for its impact in North-East Nigeria, and now extended to the Niger Delta region for the first time.

Rooted in the conviction that sustainable peace must be people-led and youth-powered, the Youth Peace Champions initiative is a grassroots movement. It equips young people with essential tools, specialized training, mentorship, and influential platforms to become effective peacebuilders and positive changemakers within their own communities.

The programme now launched in Bayelsa, which is implemented under the project “Strengthening the Niger Delta Peace Architecture using Community-based Crime and Violence Prevention Strategies” (funded by Denmark), directly aligns with the state’s pioneering youth policy. It stands as a potential blueprint for youth-led transformation across Nigeria: Investing in Youth, Building Resilient Communities.

Building on documented successes in the North-East, where 32 Youth Peace Champions reached over 9 million people with campaigns like #SeeTheChild, UNODC is adapting its methodology to Bayelsa’s unique context. A diverse cohort of 25 young leaders has been meticulously selected from five communities: Otuan, Ekeremor, Ikebiri 1, Ekowe, and Ayamasa. This group, representing both formal and informal sectors, includes 13 females (one with a disability) and 12 males.

These champions will undergo intensive training in peacebuilding, crime and drug use prevention, future-forward skills, creative communication, and emerging trends. Crucially, they will be mentored by established leaders across various sectors who share UNODC’s core belief: peace must be youth-led and locally driven. Beyond advocacy, they will serve as visible community role models, fostering social cohesion, driving positive change, and promoting self-reliance through inclusive, sustainable, community-owned actions.

The programme was inaugurated during the International Youth Day commemoration jointly hosted by UNODC and the Bayelsa State Government in Yenagoa.

UNODC Country Representative for Nigeria, Mr. Cheikh Toure, stated at the launch, that: “The theme for this year’s International Youth Day, ‘Local Youth Actions for the SDGs and Beyond,’ underscores the perfect timing of this inauguration. We are equipping these young people not merely with skills but with a powerful platform to amplify their voices, propose solutions, and stand as beacons of hope for their peers. This is not charity. It is not tokenism. It is a vital investment in leadership, in resilient communities, and in the peaceful, prosperous Nigeria we collectively envision. The Bayelsa Youth Peace Champions now join a growing national movement, spanning geopolitical zones and cultures, united by a common purpose: to reclaim peace and rebuild futures.”

On his part, the Commissioner for Youth, Bayelsa State, Hon Alfred Kemepado emphasized: “On this International Youth Day, we stand united with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) to ignite a movement, one that empowers our young people to become torchbearers of peace and leadership. The inauguration of the Youth Peace Champions is more than a program; it is a call to action. It is a bold statement that the voices, courage, and vision of our youth will shape the destiny of Bayelsa, of Nigeria, and of the world. Together, we are raising a generation that will not only dream of peace but will defend it, live it, and lead it.”

According to a statement: This initiative directly supports the implementation of the United Nations Security Council Resolution 2250 on Youth, Peace, and Security, emphasizing the critical need for inclusive, localized approaches in fragile contexts.
With rising interest from other Nigerian states, UNODC extends an invitation to strategic partners. Supporting the scaling of this transformative, evidence-based model offers an opportunity to promote peace, prevent crime, foster youth livelihoods, and create a powerful ripple effect of hope across Nigeria, Champion by Champion.

Denmark, UNODC Partner Bayelsa State Government to Launch Youth Empowerment Programme

More than 100 commuters perished along the Maiduguri Damaturu road before the advent of RRS to stop the carnage….Commander Babalola

By: Bodunrin Kayode

More than 100 commuters perished along the Maiduguri Damaturu route before the formation of the rapid response squad (RRS) in Borno state.

Some were killed on the spot while on their journeys but hundreds were wheeled into the savanna by dare devil insurgents who slaughtered them like cattle when they resisted certain crazy directives before the advent of the RRS.

Casualties caused by boko haram insurgents on the Damaturu Maiduguri road alone became so alarming that Governor Babagana Zulum had to step in with the formation of (RRS) five years ago to ameliorate the situation.

These were the words of the Commander of the RRS squad Abioye Babalola in a recent chat with this reporter during an operational visit of the Commissioner of Police Abdulmajid Naziru to their base.

Before now, he noted, there was no easy movement by commuters on this route but the coming of RRS has eased that wickedness by the insurgents on the road.

” RRS has become a single strike unit of the State government and it has been serving the state diligently without any fear.

“The CP is passionate about the squad which is why he came to see things for himself and know where we have challenges and where he can make his input.

” For instance about twelve officers do not have office accommodation to work effectively and many more of these similar challenges which the CP intends to handle for the squad” Assistant Commissioner of Police Babalola posited.

The RRS squad established Jan 10, 2010 is made up of men of the Nigerian police in charge of internal security and all the paramilitary agencies in the state including the civilian joint task force (JTF) known to have been fighting along side troops in the last fifteen years.

The visit further revealed that the Borno state Police command has been able to arrest 1,541 suspects for various forms of infractions against the laws of the land during the period under review.

This massive haul of arrests which occurred especially during the period of the arrival of the new CP includes 32 dismissed military personnel alleged to have been involved in various forms of criminal activities in the state.

The RRS commander revealed that 1,164 suspect were convicted, 247 released, 1,197 charged to court with 64 still under detention and awaiting trial.

Commander Babalola said that the squad also recovered exhibits from the suspects which include dangerous weapons, military uniforms. illegal drugs worth N27.1m and many more.

Meanwhile, the Borno Commissioner of Police Abdulmajid Naziru has commended the squad for their efforts in fighting all manner of criminality and charged them to be professional in all their duties.

RRS now has extra patrol routes between Mafa and Maiduguri apart from Maiduguri Gubio to Mongonu where they are stationed at Mongumeri along the way.

More than 100 commuters perished along the Maiduguri Damaturu road before the advent of RRS to stop the carnage….Commander Babalola

NUJ Makes case for a Media Enhancement Bill coupled with Health Insurance for Journalists

By: Bodunrin kayode

The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) has perfected plans for the passage of a “Media Enhancement Bill” aimed at improving welfare packages and working conditions for journalists across the country.

NUJ President, Comrade Alhassan Yahaya, stated this recently during a “veteran journalists interactive forum” in Kano, organised by the NUJ Kano State Council in collaboration with the State Ministry for Information and Internal Affairs.

Yahaya noted that the proposed bill, which is already attracting sponsorship from members of the House of Representatives, would address poor remuneration in the profession and provide a legal framework for better welfare.

“We blow other people’s trumpets but not ours. It is time we stood firm and work collectively to ensure the bill is passed.” Said the President.

He also called for the introduction of a practicable health insurance for journalists, revealing that less than one per cent currently have coverage in the country.

According to him, with an annual premium of N15,000 under the State health insurance scheme, journalists could access healthcare at all levels, reducing out-of-pocket expenses and promoting universal health coverage.

Kano State Commissioner for Information and Internal Affairs, Comrade Ibrahim Abdullahi-Waiya, pointed out that the state had implemented wide-ranging reforms to strengthen media capacity, enhance transparency, and improve communication between government and citizens.

He highlighted the revival of in-house publications, rehabilitation of the ministry’s library, and stronger relations with media executives, political commentators, and civil society groups.

Also speaking former NUJ National President, Malam Sani Zoro, cautioned against misinformation and misuse of artificial intelligence, urging the union to adopt global best practices and invest in professional training.

Stakeholders at the dialogue commended Kano State for being widely regarded as Nigeria’s most media-friendly state, citing significant investments in journalism infrastructure, human capital development, and the clearance of pension arrears for retired journalists.

They recommended quarterly dialogues, mentorship programmes by veteran journalists, and continuous capacity-building to boost professionalism.

The interactive session brought together veteran journalists, academics, and media practitioners to address ethical standards and strengthen public trust in the media.

NUJ Makes case for a Media Enhancement Bill coupled with Health Insurance for Journalists