2023: ActionAid calls on Nigerian youths to get PVCs »

Nigerian youths have been urged to register and obtain their Permanent Voters Cards (PVCs) to enable them vote in the forthcoming 2023 general elections in the country.

The Country Director, ActionAid Nigeria, Mrs Ene Obi made the call at the passing out parade and graduation of 500 Peace Ambassadors of the 2021 Youth Peace Camp held in Doma Local Government Area of Nasarawa State on Friday.

Mrs Obi urged youths to register and collect their PVCs, saying it was the only way they can participate in the decision making process of the country.

She admonished them not to allow themselves to be used as agents of election violence, especially as the 2023 general elections draw near but work in the area of promoting peace and unity in the state and the country and at large.

“Your registration is your participation in the governace process and your voting makes you contribute because governance is for the people by the people and for the people. So, if that is the case, elections is one of the easiest ways you can choose your leaders.

“One of the essence of being a peace ambassador is to look at the value of life and so when a life is lost, a mother is hurt. So ActionAid Nigeria believes in the quality of the human lives. We believe that we are all equal,” she said.

The country director noted that her organisation has trained a total number of 1,500 Peace Ambassadors within three years as part of its System and Structure Strengthening Approach against Radicalisation to Violent Extremism (SARVE II) Project through capacity building and skills acquisition to enable them become self reliant.

Mrs Obi therefore, charged the youth to be transparent and shun any behaviour that will lead to violent extremism in the state.

In a remark, the Permanent Secretary, State Ministry of Youth and Sports Development, Alhaji Kassim Suleiman, represented by the Director Youth, Mr Abukakar Umar, advised the peace ambassadors to go out and preach the language of peace among their families, communities and the state at large.

“They should try as much as possible to advice their parents on the need to appreciate themselves as husband and wife, that will also transcend to the larger society or community where we should be able to tolerate one another, irrespective of our diverse culture and ethnicity,” he said.

He commended ActionAid Nigeria and her partners for prioritising the needs of the youth and assured of the state government’s commitment to developing the youths, in order to make them employers of labour.

Earlier, the Executive Director, Global Peace Development, Mr Ebruke Esike said the purpose of the 2021 youth peace camp was to create the culture of peace among youths and ensuring that they have capacities of mitigating conflict in their communities.

Mr Ebuke noted that the programme was in line with the United Nations Resolution 2250, aimed at building a strong youth force that will contribute to peace processes and conflict resolution both at local, national, regional and international levels.

The one-week youth peace camp with the theme: ‘Shaping Peace Through Harmonious Cohabitation’ was organised by ActionAid Nigeria, in partnership with Global Peace Development and Beacon Youth Initiative, with funding from the Global Community Engagement and Resilience Fund (GCERF).

Participants of the 2021 peace camp consist of youths from 12 communities in six local government areas of the state, where the SARVE II project is being implemented.