The Honourable Minister of State for Youth Development, Hon. Ayodeji Olawande has accepted to partner with Nigeria Youth Workers Association (NYWA) to professionalize Youth Development in the Country. The Minister made this commitment on behalf of the Ministry to work with NYWA to redefine Youth Work and Empower the Youths in Nigeria.
In his words, “Let us work together to professionalize youth work, redefine Youth Development and empower the Youths of our great country Nigeria. We must put work first before money, as we do the work together, we naturally create opportunities for wealth”
The Honourable Minister made this call during a meeting with the Delegation of the Nigeria Youth Workers Association(NYWA) led by Comr. Ben Duntoye on Monday, 11th December, 2023 at the office of the Honourable Minister, Federal Secretariat Complex Abuja.
Hon. Ayodeji affirmed the Ministry’s readiness to partner and support NYWA as the statutory body of Youth Workers in Nigeria to actualize the aspirations of the Organisation and entrench professionalized Youth Development in the nation, “We are dealing with a fearless generation full of potentials. The Youths hold solutions to the myriads of challenges confronting the nation. We believe in them, support them to realize their individual and collective dreams” He further posited passionately.
The Minister describe the Federal Ministry of Youth Development as a vehicle for Nation Building that carried so much possibilities for both Sociocultural and Economic Development of Nigeria, if adequately funded and strategically repositioned, which he believed the partnership between NYWA and the Ministry would foster.
NYWA is the coordinating structure of all Youth Professional Workers, Youth Development Practitioners, Mentors, Coaches and Youth Service Providers in Nigeria primarily objectivized to institutionalizing and professionalizing Youth Development in the Country.
Earlier in his speech, Comr. Ben Duntoye who is currently the Executive Director, African Resource Centre, and Former President of Pan African Youth Union(PYU), explained that the Nigeria Youth Workers Association (NYWA) was recognized by the Commonwealth Youth Programme and affiliated to the Commonwealth Alliance of Youth Workers Association (CAYWA), with very active participation at various international meetings and Conferences.
Duntoye further stated that NYWA was conceived to improve support mechanisms for aspiring and practicing Youth Workers, “A Youth Leader or Practitioner must have some level of Training and Certification, to equip them with needed skill and knowledge tools for positive impact, in conformity with International Standards and Global Best Practices” Duntoye asserted.
“Serious arrangements are being made for the offering of professional Courses for all Youth Professionals and Workers across the country to make them more effective and globally competitive” he continued.
Comr. Duntoye concluded that with partnership and support from the Youth Ministry and Minister, NYWA will achieve much more both nationally and internationally.
The visit climaxed in the decoration and presentation of Certificate of National Patron to the Minister in compliance with the Constitution of the Nigeria Youth Workers Association.
