Nigeria Youth SDGs Network’s Post

Today, we celebrate the essence of our democracy, our shared vision for a better future. Democracy isn't just a political concept, it's a reflection of our collective aspirations and values, uniting diverse voices to shape a society where everyone has a voice and an opportunity to thrive. As we mark this day, let's recommit to active participation and civic engagement. By embracing inclusivity, fostering dialogue, and advocating for equality, we strengthen the pillars of our democracy. Together, let's continue the journey towards a more just and equitable world. In memories of our heroes past and the potential for a better Nigeria, we say, Happy Democracy Day 🇳🇬 #JGlobalProperties #DemocracyDay #UnityInDiverse #EqualityForAll #Nigeria #Labour #NLC #ActivismForChange #RealEstateInvestment #RealEstate

We are geared up to Speak at the Regional Conference on Promoting Youth Political and Civic Participation in Africa. #Ready and Steady #AdvancingTheYouthAgenda

Understanding Africa's youth bulge is crucial for shaping the continent's future. Dr. Katindi Sivi, an Afri-futurist and Executive Director, Longview Consult, sheds light on the challenges and opportunities facing young people. From Kenya's youth engagement programmes to broader issues of exclusion and violence, this video offers valuable insights. 💭 Share with us: How can we harness Africa's youth bulge as a catalyst for positive change? #AfricasYouth #YouthRights #YouthDevelopment #HumanRights

#Day 3 Summary 📚 🖊 Day 3 lecture was notably interactive and rich in practical applications. Our first guest speaker, Princess Alugwe, Head of Programmes for Seavelead Humanitarian Initiatives, delivered a compelling presentation on "How to Become a Responsible Citizen." She defined Civic Education as the process of educating citizens about their rights, responsibilities, and duties within a democratic society. From her talk, I gained valuable insights into the role of civic education in peacebuilding. As a peacebuilder, understanding the fundamental principles of civic engagement is crucial for effectively participating in democratic processes. It empowers individuals to make informed decisions, engage in constructive dialogue, and advocate for peaceful resolutions to conflicts. Additionally, it fosters a culture of respect, tolerance, and collaboration within diverse communities. Princess Alugwe outlined several practical strategies for civic engagement: 1. Voter Education: Voting is a fundamental civic right and a powerful tool for shaping leadership. Every citizen has the right to vote and to stand for election, thereby influencing their governance and societal direction.    2. Community Service: Engaging in community service involves voluntarily helping others and demonstrating solidarity. This fosters a spirit of mutual support and communal responsibility. 3. Advocacy: Advocacy involves speaking out on behalf of others to promote a cause. Effective advocacy can mobilize support and drive social change by highlighting issues and motivating action. 4. Collaboration: Working together with government bodies, community groups, religious leaders, and other organizations can enhance civic engagement and lead to impactful outcomes. Our second guest speaker, Emmanuel Nkanta, addressed the topic of "Dialogue in Peacebuilding." He described dialogue as a structured and secure means of communication between individuals or groups aimed at exchanging views, knowledge, understanding, and perceptions to achieve a common understanding on critical issues. He emphasized that dialogue differs from discussion, conference, consultation, debate, negotiation, or advocacy. In the context of Nigeria, many conflicts arise from issues related to resources and perceptions, such as power, money, poverty, and identity. These conflicts often stem from values, prejudices, ego, ignorance, and grievances, and can be addressed through effective dialogue. #serveleadhumanitarianinitiative #Peacebuilder #Peaceambassador #OneNigeria #Nigeriawewant

Democracy is, at its core, a vehicle for participatory governance. Unfortunately, Nigeria's civic space and, consequently, democracy are designed in a way that doesn't capture the views of huge swaths of our population, ranging from the elderly to the youth. How do you build a more inclusive and participatory democracy?! How do we bridge the gap between the youth and elderly in how best to demand for good governance?! These are the issues we plan to canvass during this fireside chat. I hope you participate in this very important conversation which couldn't be more timely in view of the #EndBadGovernance protests.#CIvicSpace #Democracy

#JoiningForces, an alliance of the six largest international NGOs working with and for children, is issuing an urgent call to action for deeper financial investments and political will to ensure children’s systematic participation in decision-making processes.   We call on governments to:  ·       Strengthen legal and policy frameworks guaranteeing children’s right to be heard as well as their civil and political rights, as enshrined in the UNCRC   ·       Establish and institutionalise structures and mechanisms for equitable and inclusive child participation   ·       Invest in child participation mechanisms, across sectors and at all levels of government   ·       Strengthen children’s capacity, confidence and knowledge to participate in decision making   ·       Support the capacity and willingness of adults to facilitate and enable children’s meaningful and ethical participation  Children must have a seat at the table. ChildFund International Save the Children International World Vision SOS Children's Villages International Terre des Hommes Netherlands in Africa Plan International

🌍 Supporting Youth Freedom of Speech in Africa 🌍 To safeguard democracy and amplify the voices of young people, we must prioritize the protection of their freedom of speech. Here’s how different institutions can contribute: 👮 Police: Building strong community relationships and enforcing non-violent protest management ensures that youth can express themselves freely and safely. 🗳️ Electoral Management Bodies: Guaranteeing free and fair elections and leveraging cutting-edge technology are vital steps in securing youth participation in the democratic process. 🏛️ Parliaments: Championing economic growth and social justice, and leveraging social media for engagement, are key to creating a responsive and inclusive society. 🌐 International Organizations: Establishing a global expert group on state violence and fostering international collaboration ensures that young voices are heard and protected globally. Let’s take action this #SpeakMonth to empower African youth and uphold their democratic rights! ✊ #ThankYouDemocracy

Do you understand the extent to which policies affect us? Policies are set standards, guidelines, expectations, responsibilities and framework used to make decisions for a people so as to have a consistent and reliable outcome. The Federal Ministry of Youth Development is inviting every Nigerian youth to review the Youth Policy Development (2019-2023) ahead of the development of the new policy. This is how to make your voice count. This is how to tell the government your grievances. This is how to share your suggestions. Click on the link; https://bit.ly/3WpzAvi and read more on www.youthpolicy.ng or scan the QR code to submit your inputs. Your idea/s will be highly appreciated. It's time for us to proffer those lofty ideas on the best way to harness the creativity and ingenuity cum resilience of Nigerian Youth. #UNFPANigeria #UNFPA #Youth #Development #policyreview #youth4change #peaceagada

Case Study: Youth in South Africa’s TRC 🇿🇦 South African youth played a crucial role in the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (#TRC), driving the #antiapartheid struggle and fostering national healing. 💪 Their stories revealed the full extent of abuses and promoted #HumanRights. 📚 Read their inspiring story and learn how youth can make a difference in Join us to learn how youth can make a difference in transitional justice! 🌐 https://linktr.ee/yhreth #YHRE #Ethiopia #ICTJ #YouthInTJ #TruthCommissions #Youth4JusticeEthiopia #TransitionalJustice

At AfricanDefenders and DefendDefenders, we understand that transparency and inclusivity are vital for advancing human rights in Africa. That's why we're proud to join forces with other civil society organizations and National Human Rights Institutions in calling for a more open and participatory process in nominating and selecting members of African Union human rights mechanisms. As we gear up for the July 2024 elections to fill vacancies in the African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights, we must prioritize transparency and inclusivity to ensure the integrity of the process. Read our statement and learn how you can join the initiative:https://lnkd.in/duCiff6S #HumanRights #Africa #Transparency #Inclusivity #CivilSociety