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Youth Engagement: The Key to Unlocking Peace and Food Security in Niger State
In today’s world, youth engagement is crucial for achieving peace and food security. Comrade Yakubu Garba, Acting Governor of Niger State, recently emphasized this importance during the 2024 International Youth Day celebration. He urged young people to engage in constructive dialogue and collaborative work with the government to build a peaceful and prosperous state.
The Niger State sub-theme, “Positioning Niger State as the Lead Driver in Nigeria’s Food Security Efforts: Youths as Critical Actors,” aligns with the Bago-led administration’s agricultural mechanization revolution. This initiative recognizes the critical role of youth in driving food security efforts and positions them as key actors in achieving this goal.
Amb. Abdullahi Mohammed Ishaq, NYCN Chairman, applauded the administration’s commitment to developing Niger State through the New Niger Agenda. He highlighted the state’s potential to lead Nigeria’s food security efforts due to its vast arable land, fertile soil, and favorable climate. However, he emphasized that recognizing youth’s critical role in agriculture is essential to achieving this goal.
To unlock the potential of youth in agriculture, Amb. Ishaq proposed a multi-faceted approach. Firstly, youth-focused agricultural programs must be established, providing training and resources to equip young farmers with modern farming techniques and technologies. Secondly, innovation and technology adoption must be encouraged, enabling farmers to increase productivity and efficiency. Furthermore, infrastructure development is crucial, including storage facilities, markets, and transportation networks to support food production and distribution.
Partnerships between government, private sector, and civil society are vital in creating a supportive ecosystem for agricultural growth. Collaborations can facilitate access to funding, expertise, and markets, enabling youth to succeed in agriculture. By empowering youth and investing in agriculture, Niger State can increase food production and availability, improve livelihoods for farmers and rural communities, enhance Nigeria’s self-sufficiency in food production, and position itself as a leader in Nigeria’s food security efforts.
The NYCN-NG commended Governor Bago’s administration for its youth-centric approach and initiatives, including the appointment of youth in various positions, introduction of transformative agendas, and efforts to reduce insecurity and improve livelihoods. Youth engagement is crucial in achieving peace and food security in Niger State. By empowering youth with skills, knowledge, and opportunities, the state can unlock it potential to revolutionize agriculture and food production, making Niger State a model for others.
Youth engagement can also help to address the root causes of conflict and promote peace in Niger State. By providing young people with opportunities for economic empowerment and social inclusion, the state can reduce the likelihood of youth being recruited into violent extremist groups. Furthermore, youth-led initiatives can help to promote interfaith dialogue, cultural understanding, and community cohesion, fostering a more peaceful and harmonious society.
Finally, youth engagement is a critical component of achieving peace and food security in Niger State. By empowering youth with skills, knowledge, and opportunities, the state can unlock their potential to drive agricultural transformation, promote peace, and ensure food security for generations to come.
