By Gabriel Ewepu

ABUJA – A Non Governmental Organization, NGO, I Am Change, has disclosed moves to give six months training of 250 youth in the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Abuja, on democratic system, civic responsibilities and duties, general civic education and enlightenment.

This was made known by the Founder, I Am Change, Hafsatu Shinkafi, which the training is
with the support from LEAP Africa and Nigerian Youth
Futures Fund.

According to Shinkafi who spoke at the “IT Starts With Me” project launch on Youth Civic Action, said the six-month civic education and enlightenment workshop is to basically train youth in FCT and other neighbouring States.

She also expressed optimism that at the end of the six-month Programme, it is expected that participants will imbibe some positive social and democratic values and skills that will be transmitted down to other young people in various spheres and influence of the local communities they belong to.

She said: “We are having the workshop for 150 participants in different age range and qualifications and we have 100 secondary school students that will be trained from September on the same topic of Democratic system, civic responsibilities and duties, general civic education with the enlightenment of young citizens.”

Also speaking at the event, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tugger, acknowledged that NGOs and CSOs have contributed to the achievement of the United Nations Sustainable Development
Goals, SDGs, through tailoring their projects and initiatives to align with one or more of these goals, thereby contributing to the global effort towards sustainable development.

Tugger who was represented by Mercy Adeoye commended the contribution and dedication of I Am Change towards shaping the consciousness of young Nigerians.

He however, encouraged all stakeholders to continue to give support and contribute towards achieving the objectives of this great mission.

“On our part, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will continue to carry out its mandates and responsibilities to ensure that Nigeria contributes meaningfully to universally accepted goals for youth development”, he said.

Meanwhile, the Programme Manager, Yiaga Africa, Ibrahim Farouq, stressed that civic engagement is about building active Nigerian citizens, which the Nigerian constitution guarantees right to freedom of assembly and association, and also for peaceful protest, whereby, if any young Nigerian wants to exercise their rights they are within the armbit of the law, and added that it is very important that this is done responsibly and peacefully.

“As active citizen, make sure that what you are doing is done peacefully, Nigeria is for us all and it is only young Nigerians that can bring about desire change in this country”, Farouq said.