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Panelists Advise Nigerian Political Leader to Bridge the Gap with Youths to Curb Growing Violence Extremism

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Panelists Advise Nigerian Political Leader to Bridge the Gap with Youths to Curb Growing Violence Extremism

By: Michael Mike

Nigerian political leaders have been advised to close the existing gap between them and the country’s teeming youth population so as to curb growing violence extremism.

This was the submission of a team of panelists who spoke at the occasion heralding the 2024 International Day of Peace, with the theme: “Cultivating a culture of Peace” organised by the United States embassy in Abuja.

The lead Speaker, Rev. John Hayab, Global Peace Foundation in Nigeria who presented a paper on “Cultivating a Culture of Peace: The role of youth in promoting leadership and peace in Nigeria,” highlighted points why it is imperative for a peaceful atmosphere for development.

The panelists who spoke after the paper presentation all agreed with Rev. Hayab that the government need to engage the youth more, stressing the need for the youth to feel the impact of the government in their development so as to be committed to the country and deploy their strength positively.

The panelits are: Director of Baynakum family Counselling Centre, Abuja; Ustaz Abdulfattah Adeyemi; the Founder Transforming Church International Abuja, Dr. Rev. Sam Oye; and Building Blocks for Peace Foundation, Mr Rafiu Adeniran Lawal,

Dr. Adeyemi stressed the place of youth in peace building, warning against gagging the youth, saying looking at the calm surface is not the real peace.

He added that: “And yet, if we keep looking at them like that, there may come a time when they won’t be able to hold on any further.

“Let us not spoil the peace these young people are ready to embrace,” he warned, while charging the government to engage the youth.

He said: “So my appeal is for us not to let things just slide by. To listen to these young people.Get them engaged. Get them busy. Give them employment.

“Motivate them. Even if it is farming they want to go into, let them do their farming and enjoy their life. These are young people who know how to enjoy life.

“With small data on their phone, they can remove their anxieties. Just key into whatever is going on in the world, and they are okay.

” So I wish we can take note of this and begin to encourage our young people to begin to appreciate our culture.

“And to begin to understand that the culture of peace is not something that is negative. It has to be positive.

Oye on his part called for inclusivity and the need to get the youth on board.

He said that it is not about given positions alone but having them have a say in policies and programs of the government.

He added that the government can from time to time gather the youth and get their day on issues and by so doing they get to understand what the youth want.

He said this will go a long way to douse tension and reduce violence in the know how much they can contribute? It is when you begin to first of all recognize, because of inclusive leadership.

He said: “It begins first with recognition. And recognition has to do with diversity.The diverse competencies that our young people have is something that is very staggered.
“As leaders, not just including those who are affiliated to your party. But looking outside of your party, to look into these young people. Who are over 60%,

“They have so much to offer this country. And when Nigerian kids are not looking for anybody to feed them. Just give them opportunity to express themself. And you’ll be amazed at what our young people can do. It takes a secure leader to be an inclusive leader.

“I’m going to say that very strongly. It takes a secure leader to be an inclusive leader. And one of the challenges we have is the fact that we are not secure in ourselves.

“So it’s very difficult for us to include people who are diverse to us.

“I would challenge our leaders to be safe and know that the children you give birth to have something to do to make a huge difference in the country that you give birth to them in. These kids can make a world of difference.

“Mark Zuckerberg has made a difference today and I think there are other Mark Zuckerbergs in our country who have given the opportunity to express themselves.”

He further added, “So I think the best way to prevent violence is to let the young people know that it’s supposed to be violence against hunger and poverty, not against their own state, without which they cannot achieve anything.

“So we will not destroy our nation. We should rather use that aggression to build a great nation. I hope I’ve said something.”

Oye also added that: “And I don’t see a young man who wants to fight a country that is part of his development. The reason it is easier for our young people to destroy anything in the country is because the country is detached from their development.
“An average Nigerian kid today does not know government. He sees government as someone to fight because in all of our children’s developmental stages, government is absent. Why shouldn’t I fight something that got my father out of work? Why shouldn’t I fight something that did not allow my mother to get along? That’s the only government I know, my mother, who took care of me, who is in care of me, my father.

“So we’re saying that if government wants to reduce all of this tension, all those little little things, such programs that equip our young people and empower them are very critical to the development of this country and to the minimization of violence.”

Lawal in his intervention pointed out that all the youth needed to function as agent of peace is little support, noting that the youth need to engage more so as to move with trend.

He said: “All they need is support to function effectively as agents of peace.

“The society that we live in. Is one that is not open to Change and then if we are going to make any meaningful transformation then we have to present ourselves as advocates rather than as activists.”

He added, “In any way,this space as we speak is traditionally closed. It will not be open automatically. So you have to force your way in. So that we can continue.”

Lawal added that young people still prefer to be peaceful despite the country’s shortcoming to make provision for them; adding that those who decided to be violents are circumstantial perpetrators and do not represent the majority of young Nigerians who are contributing amazingly to the development of the country.

Panelists Advise Nigerian Political Leader to Bridge the Gap with Youths to Curb Growing Violence Extremism

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UN Women Strengthens Partnerships for Inclusive Development in Warri Kingdom

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UN Women Strengthens Partnerships for Inclusive Development in Warri Kingdom

By: Michael Mike

In a significant step toward advancing gender equality and inclusive development, UN Women Nigeria Representative, Ms. Beatrice Eyong, was hosted by the Royal Iwere Foundation under the gracious leadership of Their Majesties, Ogiame Atuwatse III, the Olu of Warri Kingdom, and Olori Atuwatse III.
 
The high-level engagement, held in Warri, focused on strengthening partnerships between UN Women and the Warri Kingdom to promote women’s empowerment, economic inclusion, and community development. 

According to a statement on Tuesday, discussions with the traditional leaders explored ongoing initiatives within the Kingdom that empower women and girls, particularly in the areas of education, entrepreneurship, and leadership. Both parties expressed a shared commitment to deepening collaboration and scaling up interventions that create sustainable opportunities for women and young people.
 
“Traditional institutions are powerful drivers of social transformation,” said Ms. Eyong. “UN Women is committed to working closely with Their Majesties and the Royal Iwere Foundation to amplify the remarkable efforts already underway in Warri Kingdom and ensure that no woman or girl is left behind.”
 
Their Majesties reaffirmed their support for partnerships that promote women’s economic empowerment, gender equality, and community resilience, noting that the Kingdom’s development vision aligns with global aspirations under the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
 
This mission underscores UN Women’s commitment to local partnerships that advance gender equality and inclusive development across Nigeria. By engaging traditional and community leaders, UN Women continues to bridge global frameworks with local realities, ensuring that women’s voices, leadership, and economic participation remain central to achieving sustainable progress.

UN Women Strengthens Partnerships for Inclusive Development in Warri Kingdom

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NDLEA Launches Online Portal for Drug Integrity Test, Visa Clearance Certificate

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NDLEA Launches Online Portal for Drug Integrity Test, Visa Clearance Certificate

By: Michael Mike

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) on Monday launched a digital platform that will make its drug integrity test and visa clearance processes seamless, more accessible and ultimately curb the scourge of substance abuse and illicit drug trafficking in the country.

The portal was unveiled at a press conference to flag off the digitization of the agency’s Drug Integrity Test and Visa E-Administration System (DITViCAS) in Abuja, where the Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of the anti-narcotics agency, Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa (Rtd) declared that the symbolic launch signifies “a paradigm shift in our fight against the scourge of substance abuse and illicit drug trafficking, a moment where enforcement meets efficiency, and commitment merges with cutting-edge technology.”

Marwa, who was represented by the agency’s Secretary, Shadrach Haruna said in line with the renewed hope agenda of President Bola Tinubu, the agency has maintained an aggressive, balanced, and uncompromising approach to tackling the scourge of illicit substances, with focus on two critical fronts: Drug Supply Reduction and Drug Demand Reduction.

He said: “For years, the process of obtaining an NDLEA Visa Clearance Certificate, required by certain source and transit countries, has been characterized by documentation, physical appearances, and lengthy verification cycles. This manual process was no doubt prone to human interference, delays, and a host of other issues.

“With the flag-off of the Online Visa Clearance Portal today, we are bringing an end to those bottlenecks. The system delivers automation across all processes and operations associated with the administration of the Drug Integrity Test and Visa Clearance with interfaces for effective collaboration with partner agencies.

“It is also important to note that we have made provision on the system for private medical centres to partner with the agency as accredited centres for Drug Integrity Test. The system brings efficiency, flexibility and convenience to the process. Following this ceremony, applicants for Drug Integrity Test and Visa Clearance can now apply from home and choose any preferred location and book a date convenient and available for both applicant and the desk officer of the NDLEA without having to go and wait the whole day at the NDLEA office.

“With the E-Certification and Verification system, it also eliminates drug and visa clearance certificate falsifications and establishes the reliability and transparency of the process with supervisory dashboards across our commands, formations and at the headquarters.

“The extension of the service to students of tertiary institutions, and others is to significantly foster drug demand reduction across the country without any attempt to stigmatize any student or anyone, while our rehabilitation and counselling centres are open for those who test positive to ensure that no one is left without care.”

Speaking further on the essence of the platform, the NDLEA boss explained that “the portal integrates sophisticated background check protocols, ensuring that the certificate remains a robust security instrument that safeguards Nigeria’s international reputation and prevents drug syndicates from exploiting legitimate travel channels. This is a commitment to the Nigerian citizen: a commitment to stress-free, integrity-driven public service delivery.

“All applicants need to do is logon to the portal (www.drugandvisa.ndlea.gov.ng), create an account and apply from anywhere and book appointment at any available centre for either Drug Integrity Test or Visa Clearance, while the system generates drug test certificates on the spot as the desk officer completes the testing process and reports the result, with the Visa Clearance process completed within three days or maximum a week in peculiar circumstances.”

He noted that the agency’s primary mission is to save lives, hence its advocacy for the Drug Integrity Test founded on a principle of prevention, rather than punishment, adding that it is an early-warning system designed to help individuals who may be experimenting with substances, giving them an opportunity for intervention and treatment before dependence sets in.

“This new digital portal allows institutions, organizations, and individuals—including parents and prospective couples—to apply for drug integrity tests seamlessly. It provides a verified, standardized, and secure process for testing and issuing certificates. It is a non-judgmental pathway designed to support our national drive for Demand Reduction, fostering healthier communities, safer workplaces, and a more secure national labour force. This is the future of our War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) campaign—proactive, compassionate, and data-driven.

“This initiative is a proof that the NDLEA is committed to leveraging the power of technology to combat the evolving complexities of drug trafficking and abuse. It is part of a broader strategy to digitize all our operations, ensuring our processes are modern, secure, and world-class. The war against drug abuse is one we must win for the sake of our youth, our families, and the future of our nation. With technology as our ally, we are better equipped, stronger, and more resolved than ever before,” he said.

He urged all stakeholders to embrace the new change and utilize the new platform fully because its success is a shared responsibility.

NDLEA Launches Online Portal for Drug Integrity Test, Visa Clearance Certificate

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Tinubu, listen to the masses, and release Nnamdi Kanu- FCT Igbo Community

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Tinubu, listen to the masses, and release Nnamdi Kanu- FCT Igbo Community

By: Michael Mike

Igbo Community in Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja has appealed to President Bola Tinubu to listen to the voices of the masses and release detained leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Mazi Nnamdi Kanu.

The President General, Igbo Community Association FCT, Engr. Ikenna Ellis-Ezenekwe, in a letter on Tuesday, said: “Mr. President the time has come for you to sit back and take a reflective rethink over the unending cries of the masses of Nigerians, not just the Igbo speaking people.

“The cries for the release of the freedom fighter, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu has begun to reach feverish pitch – and may begin to pose a distraction to your administration if you fail to act timely.

“Nnamdi Kanu may become your Achilles heel if this unfolding “free Nnamdi Kanu” protests is not addressed properly in a democratic manner.

“The masses of Nigeria have come to the realization that holding a Nnamdi Kanu for over 4 years for no crime that he has been found guilty of, is injustice. They also remember how he was abducted from Kenya and brought back to Nigeria by agents of the Federal Government of Nigeria.

“We call on you to use your executive powers and influence to solve this growing problem before it grows out of control.

“You are a clever and wise politician. No doubt about that. But you must also be a clever and wise President. Continued detention of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu is not wise or clever.

“A true democratic leader listens to his people. The people want Nnamdi Kanu to be freed. He deserves justice.

“We believe it is not illegal for a people to agitate for their rights. Nigeria belongs to all of us.”
End

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