Every year, on August 12, the world commemorates the International Youth Day (IYD). This day is exclusively set aside by the United Nations to, among other things, identify with the youth, discuss challenges affecting them and proffer practical solutions to the identified challenges.
The Foundation for Youth Awakening and Empowerment (FOYAE) joined in the commemorations this year.
A top board member of the Foundation, Mr. Bachama Yusuf highlighted this year’s theme: “Intergenerational Solidarity: Creating A World for All Ages” in speech during the occasion.
Bachama who doubles as Founder/CEO, Dandalin Matasa Initiative notes that the thematic topic was coined by the UN Secretary General, Mr. Antonio Guterres as a mean of promoting inclusion of youth in all aspects of socioeconomic and cultural development.
According to him, “inclusivity of youth in tandem with “intergenerational solidarity” agenda of the UN can not be achieved without focus and refocus on PWD Youth population the world over.
He observed that youths with disabilities are the most disadvantaged, most vulnerable and most discriminated segment of the global Youth population. The world therefore needs to reflect on this”.
Bachama also used the occasion to call on governments at all levels, youth-focused NGOs, Community Based Organizations, CBOs, Organizations of Persons with Disabilities, OPDs, and prominent personalities who graced the occasion to ensure proper renumeration of youth with disabilities and their being included in societies.
Speaking at the occasion, Mrs Linda Meshack, representing blind cluster expressed dissatisfaction with the way people tend to discriminate PWDs especially women and youths. She warned that such injustice be stopped by all means if the UN’s “Intergenerational Solidarity for All Ages” goal will be achieved.
“We must shun all discriminatory tendencies to achieve the UN agenda for inclusivity of all”, she added.
Special guest during the event, Alh Ahmed Yayari (Wazirin Yariman Gombe) expressed gratitude to FOYAE leaders for organizing such an enlightening program. In his words: “it is high time society redefined its values and norms.
Yayari further stressed the need for more collaboration between the younger and older generation to achieve harmony and end all forms of discriminations within society’s ranks.
INN reports that the IYD celebration witnessed participation of prominent personalities. In attendance were representatives of Ministries of Education, Youth and Empowerment, Information and Culture, the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), representative of various youth groups and PWDs were present.