FG canvasses creation of UNESCO Youth Commission

The Federal Government has requested the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) to pass a resolution to create Commission for Global Youth Engagements within the organisation.

The Minister of Sports and Youth Development, Mr Solomon Dalung, made the request yesterday at the ongoing 39th Session of General Conference of UNESCO in Paris.

Dalung said the proposed commission would help to practically engage youths into activities of UNESCO and build their confidence in the international system.

The minister faulted the present UNESCO model of engaging youths, describing it as ‘‘theoretical and sermonising.

“The UN has been sermonising for 72 years on youth issues and there is no single commission established in the UN to address the issues.

“What the youth needs today is not preaching, not conferences and lectures but guaranteed future.

“The only way they can do that is to engage them, give them sense of belonging, build confidence in them and give them access to participation,” he said.

In achieving this, the minister called on the UN body to adopt the Nigeria National Youth Parliament (NYP) model of youth engagement.

Dalung said that the NYP which was established by the Nigerian Government in 2008 had helped to build political leaders for the country and beyond.

“The first Speaker of the NYP is today the Speaker of Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly.

“The second Speaker was a National Youth Leader of the PDP, while the Chief Whip was elected the Chairperson of Commonwealth Youth Forum,” Dalung noted.