Rivers youth groups pay advocacy visit to NDE, call for transparency

The Centre for Environment, Human Rights and Development (CEHRD), Kpor, Okana and Marine Base Youth Leadership Networks in line with its resolve towards accountability of government to the people as well as youths and working to reduce youth unemployment in Rivers State paid an advocacy visit to the National Directorate of Employment, Rivers State Chapter.

During the visits, representatives of the three youth networks, urged the agency represented by State Coordinator, with three other Ministry staff to strengthen the existing employment and empowerment process to make it more transparent, accountable and Inclusive. 

According to the youth representatives, “the system of using Rivers State National Youth Council and The Local Government Chairmen to select beneficiaries for empowerment may continue to lead to abuse of the process and sabotage the gain therein, as the true beneficiaries may not be selected because the process may be unduly influenced”. 

They went further to urge registered Youth Organizations to create more awareness through the use of radio as well as internet, noting that other channels of advertising should be reinvigorated and strengthened. They added that the Rivers State Youth Council and Local Government selection process should be monitored to ensure that set criteria developed by the ministries adhere to standard. 

The group also asked that provision should be made for the physically challenged and the marginalized as well as equal representation for both male and female youth members. A position Michael Chidozie, The Programme Officer of the project, stated will go a long way to strengthen recruitment and empowerment processes, thereby ensuring that everyone is given equal opportunity. 

The State Coordinator of the Ministries on behalf of his team thanked the youth groups for their advocacy visit and promised that changes recommended will be appropriated periodically.

He nonetheless assured the group that his agency has already integrated transparency, accountability and inclusivity into its programmes, but promised that they will continue to work to improve the process.

He lauded the youth group for taking up such selfless assignment and solicited for cooperation and continuous communication between both body to see that back-hand practice will be eliminated from the Rivers State Youth Employment and Empowerment Programme. 

The Kpor, Okana and Marine base Youth Leadership Networks agreed to work with the ministry to educate the youths on value reorientation to achieve the goal of a transparent, accountable and inclusive youth employment and empowerment programmes in Rivers State.

About CEHRD:

CEHRD is a non-governmental organisation with its head office in 19 Okomoko Street, D/Line, Port Harcourt, Rivers State capital and branch office in the Ogale community in the Eleme Local Government Area (LGA). CEHRD was founded on 15th August, 1999. The organisation works in the areas of human and environmental rights, conservation and community development. For more information, please check. www.cehrd.com.www.cehrd.com

About the Networks:

The Kpor , Okana and Marine Base Youth Leadership Networks was founded in 2014 by the youths of Kpor , Okana and Marine Base communities through Centre for Environment, Human Rights and Development with funding from Nigeria Stability and Reconciliation Programme, NSRP to carry out enlightenment campaign within the community on the importance of using non-violent actions in the demand for economic opportunities for the youths, enlighten communities on how to key into ongoing or upcoming employment and empowerment programmes, advocate for an equitable distribution of government programmes within the community, L.G.A and senatorial district irrespective of age, gender, status, caste, educational background or disabilities and religious and political affiliation and actively pursue economic opportunities for members both within the network and in the community

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