Stakeholders Solicit Effective Involvement Of Youths In Ensuring Healthy Future

As part of efforts to reduce poverty and enhance large scale production of healthier food, social inclusion, biodiversity conservation and climate change mitigation, the Edo State Technical Working Group on Adolescents and Youth Health Development in collaboration with the National Youths Council of Nigeria, NYCN, Oredo chapter, has organized an event to enlighten youths on how to identify existing agricultural and healthcare structures in the state and use them to improve their living conditions.

The event with the theme “Transforming Food Sytems: Youth Innovation for Human and Planetary Health” was part of activities to mark the 2021 International Youths Day.

Various speakers who took turn to speak at the forum observed that there could be no future without youths; and a healthy future without healthy youth.

They called on young people to be in the forefront of supporting a healthy future for themselves and others.

The participants at the gathering in Benin City, equally called on governments, Non-Governmental Organizations and individuals to support system that engages and rewards young people who venture into agriculture and other endeavors.

One of them, chairman, Edo State Technical Working Group for Adolescent and Youth Health Development, Doctor Bright Oniovokukor observed that despite the wealth of ideas and talents possessed by the Nigerian youths, there were some in-actions relegating them to the background.

He therefore called on youths to maximize their potentials by being creative and taking advantages of existing structures available to them.

“We are marking this day to draw the attention of the youths to what is in it for them and how they can get involved. When they are involved their innovative ideas can be brought to bear.

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“We brought here today various resource persons to speak on existing structures that the youth should know about, key into it for them to bring on board their highly innovative ideas”, he stated.

Representative of the World Health Organization, Mrs. Kate Ogiugo emphasized that the importance of food and health to individuals and the society at large cannot be over-emphasized.

She pointed out that a healthy youth population would boost food production and assured that her organization would continue to support activities that promote the health of all, including the youths.

On his part, chairman, National Youth Council of Nigeria, Oredo Chapter, Mr. Aghedo Hillary while giving an overview on how the international youths day celebration came about, stated that the celebration has had much positive impact in the life of young people and the society at large.

He further observed that the theme of this year’s International Youth Day “Transforming Food Systems: Youth Innovation for Human and Planetary Health” was an indication that the success of such a global effort will not be achieved without the meaningful participation of young people.

Resource persons who spoke on the sub-theme “Identifying Existing Agricultural and Healthcare Structures for the Edo Youth” called on youths to improve on their living conditions through various sponsored agricultural programs by government and others.

They equally called on youths to seek reproductive and clinical health care from government accredited health centers rather than patronizing road side chemists to guide against unwanted pregnancy and reduce unsafe abortion; where it is necessary to undergo such treatment.

Some youths at the event thanked the organizers , noting that the event has broadened their knowledge on how they could take advantage of various existing structures by governments and various organizations to better their lives.