By Preye Ketebu-Brown
Twelfth August every year is celebrated as International Youth Day. In 1999 through resolution 54/120 the United Nations General Assembly endorsed the recommendation made by the World Conference of Ministers Responsible for Youth proclaiming 12th August, set aside for celebration of youths across the World. It was envisaged that the special day would serve to advance advocacy for the World Programme of Action for Youth and all such youth development/empowerment policy instruments at every level of government across the world.
This year’s theme is Intergenerational Society: Creating a World for all Ages. The theme aims to diagnose the concept of ageism as it affects society. The World Health Organization (WHO) defines ageism as “the stereotypes, prejudice and discrimination directed towards others or oneself, based on age”. The Global Report on Ageism 2021 identifies Intergenerational interventions, Policy and Law; and Education as three key strategies to address ageism. Impressively, in Bayelsa State exists a good governance culture of holding Town Hall Meetings, Interactive Sessions, Community Meetings, and more recently Bonfire Nites organized by activists, groups, government institutions, NGO/CSOs, etc. for intergenerational convergence, for solutions to common challenges. The 6th annual Bayelsa Youth Leadership Awards organized by the dynamic young Comrade Atti Joshua Moses is a worthy example of a youth led platform that fosters intergenerational dialogue. The Award Program brings together youth development enthusiasts of all ages under one roof to converse and be celebrated. In a related development, recently we had a similar platform in the nature of a bonfire nite organized in Otuakeme by Mr. Robert Azibaola to bring young and old together to discuss indiscriminate logging in our precious Rain Forest; and the negative consequences of despoliation of our natural environment for generations unborn. Notable institutions as the Nigerian Content Monitoring and Development Board (NCMDB) have fostered enduring partnerships for progress with youth, through such intergenerational intervention tools as Town Hall Meetings from time-to-time. The African Development Bank (AfDB), Nigeria Office, recently convened an online stakeholders interactive session of an intergenerational mold which was hailed as extremely remarkable as participants cut across age, gender, territorial and professional barriers in one virtual space. In the past we had several Presidential Interactive Sessions during Presidential Visits all designed to bring all ages together for collective solutions to local problems.
Globally, Nigerian youths are reputed to be of high intelligence, vibrant, dutiful, upwardly mobile, tech savvy and innovatively creative. Consequently, addressing ageism in Nigeria will go a long way in identifying and harnessing the positive energies of our teeming youth; mitigating youth restiveness, banditry and juvenile delinquencies. In Bayelsa State, hopefully the social-economic policy frame work of the Senator Douye Diri administration is on track to restore youth confidence in governance; and a more blissful intergenerational society. Regular payment of salaries and pensions coupled with proactive education policies and youth empowerment programs, has resulting effect in alleviating poverty and reducing intergenerational conflicts in homes, communities and the society at large. Gratefully, the prosperity philosophy of the administration aligns well with the spirit of the Global Report on Ageism 2021. As the World celebrates international youth day 2022, World Youth Centre incorporated is happy to identify with Federal, States and Local Governments; Youth NGO/CSOs, Development Partners, Organized Private Sector (OPS), the Media and all stakeholders who spare no effort at forging intergenerational harmony in the best interest of a tranquil and youth friendly society.
Comrade Preye Jerome Ketebu-Brown
Secretary Board of Trustees
Vice President, World Assembly of Youth (WAY
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