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"Youth Engagement and
Development" - Femi
Ikutiyinu
Youth by definition is that period in a person’s life
when childhood is left behind and the formative
years between the age of 15 and 29 stretch ahead.
Young people see what is around them in a fresh
light and itch to improve what is their inheritance –
they are bubbly and full of inspiring ideas, and they
have a strong voice with the ability to make a huge
difference worldwide.
Youth actively engagement must not be limited.
Their participation must cut across decision-
making, sports, schools and any activity where
young people are not historically engaged.
It is therefore important that young people are
empowered and given the opportunity to reach
their full potential. Such a goal can only be
achieved through investing in their skills,
harnessing their energy, encouraging their
ambitions, and providing opportunities to further
their education and participation in their local –
and by default often the global – economy. Youth
development can be achieved even in low income
countries by providing quality education. training
and allowing young people to participate in the
nation’s political, economic and social debate.
Youth engagement is the result when young people
are involved in responsible, challenging actions to
create positive social change. This means involving
youth in planning and in making decisions that
affect themselves and others. Youth engagement
happens in youth-adult partnerships that are
structured so that both groups contribute, teach,
and learn from each other.
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Ecological perspective of human development
stated categorically how youth engagement is the
central principle of youth development. This
group stressed further that youth are agents of
their own development. Youth are more than
passive recipients of external influences; instead
they are actively involved in shaping their
development by interacting with the people and
opportunities made available within their
environments.
According to the Initiator of Africa Small Business
Group, youth engagement is a win-win
proposition. The platform promises to benefit the
youth by gaining skills, knowledge, self-esteem
and networking. It is also an opportunity to
enhance competence, learning to better
understanding and increasing in commitments.
Since youth is that period in which revolutionary
thoughts spring to mind and these thoughts
shape our world just like Bill Gates, the founder
of Microsoft, who had a revolutionary thought
and he exercised it then changed the world, who
says you cannot spring up a surprise thought,
then convert it to a world winning idea? If Bill
Gates can do it, you can do it,
Are you a Youth? If yes, this is the time to
structure yourself with a specific aims and
objectives in the positive direction on how you
can contribute more towards the national
development.
Femi Ikutiyinu, UK