the youths should become more politically active in the interest of their future - hon. afolabi afuape
According to the Wikipedia, the International Youth Day (IYD) is "an awareness day designated by the United Nations." The purpose of this day is to draw attention to a given set of contemporary issues surrounding youth's affairs. This day is observed annually on August 12. Being an awareness day, it is meant as an opportunity for government and other relevant organizations to proffer solutions to the amounting challenges of the youths.
In celebration of this year's event, the steering committee of the state chapter of the International Youth Day celebration made a courtesy visit to the Hon. Commissioner for Youth & Sport. Below is an excerpt of the interview:
1. Can we meet you sir?
My name is Afolabi Afuape, the Hon. Commissioner for Youths & Sports in Ogun State.
2. Can we have an insight into your experiences pre and post assumption of office?
Before this appointment, I have been involved in youth's affairs as a Lecturer. This current position is though more encopassing compared to the former where I only deal with students being a strata of the youth formation. This present position also deals with all youths of different backgrounds, both the educated and non-educated. Regardless of the differences, my responsibility has been to encourage those on the path of honour and discourage those on the path of dishonour by orientating them on the proper way to go. It has been an awesome experience that is still ongoing. Compared to the previous administration, you will agree with me that the issue of Cultism has drastically reduce in the state as the youths are now being enlightened and empowered into doing something meaningful with their lives.
3. Sir, as a former Lecturer and a serving Commissioner, which did you find impactful between being a Leader and a Politician?
As I stated earlier, lecturing is narrow when compared to the experience here. Lecturing is about academics while politics is about life. Being a politician is broader as it has to do more with managing people of varying backgrounds. This is not as easy as lecturing but with God on our sides, all challenges are surmountable.
4. Sir, what are the core responsibilities of the Ministry?
The Ministry of Youth and Sports is a twin ministry; we are to develop both youths and sports. How do we do this? It is simply to let them discover themselves afterwards engaging them positively. We are working on upgrading the Ministry to Ministry of Youth and Sports and Employment Generation; this is to enable the Ministry develop the youths more having the larger percentage of the unemployed.
Aside from organizing trainings for youths in different sections, since assumption of office, I initiated the first youth convention. The Second edition of the convention will be held this year towards October. The youth convention is simply to showcase youths that are successful in life to inspire the younger ones to believe that they can make it with or without their parents or government.
5. There is a misconception by majority of the public on whether the Ministry is solely for Youth or Sports. What is your take sir?
There is an umbrella body for all youth organizations in Nigeria, which is the National Youth Council of Nigeria, how many of the youths out there are aware? So how more do we expect their majority to know that the Ministry is dedicated to both youths and sports? Of course, when we engage people in sporting activities, we automatically engage them in youthful affairs. We are for both. I must be factual - we have not been meeting expectations due to our challenges. But the challenges are everywhere. The less of youth activities can also be tied to the separation of employment generation as an agency on its own. Hopefully with the ongoing efforts to include employment generation as part of the Ministry, there will be more significance to youth affairs in the Ministry.
6. Aside from finance being a challenge, what other challenge is the Ministry experiencing?
Money is a general challenge. And when there is shortage of money, executing trainings for the youths become difficult; sporting activities and others too are tied to money. However, this challenge is not peculiar to only the Ministry of Youths and Sports. We are giving our best with less of personal interests and more of patriotic delivery to our people.
7. What are the avenues through which the Ministry generates funds?
I will rather say none for now. Well, initially, our stadia gave us little money but the percentage is extremely low. Though we are working on formulating new possibilities as all Ministries ought to be revenue generating else none will be contributing to the state's treasury.
Apologetically, we don't really have standard stadiums in Ogun state. The best we have is in Ijebu Ode making it the busiest of all. The MKO Abiola International Stadium only has a football pitch. It is lacking in indoor games. The best achievement we can be proud of is the Ijeja Sports Centre. However, effort is on to upgrade the MKO Abiola International Stadium into a true international standard before the end of this administration. Consequently all other facilities will be worked on. And this will likely increase our chances of generating revenue more for the government. And believe me, the Ogun standard will always marvel the world.
8. Sir, the NYCN is the umbrella youth body in Nigeria. What is the relationship between the Council and the Ministry?
Our relationship is not only cordial but complimentary. The NYCN is only helping us to execute our jobs. An instance is the planning being made on this year's International Youth Day celebration. To God be the glory, the Council has been up to the task and am using this opportunity to commend the leadership for being part of our success story.
9. What rating will you offer the Youth Council under the leadership of Com. (Prince) Adeleke Adebajo?
I must commend the Chairman. If you look at his profile in youth's activities particularly as the Chairman of all Chairmen in Southwest, he must have possessed unparalleled qualities. Recently, the Governor also appointed him as a Board member of the Community Social Development Agency. If he is not capable, he would not have reached this miles. I will rate him seven of ten marks, on minimum.
10. What is the position of the government on the welfare and development of the youths in the nearest future?
Long term planning is key for the survival of our people. People will only appreciate us more on our current projects in the future. The development witnessed herein is opening opportunities; companies are springing up in Ogun state on daily basis - the result of which is platforms for employments and engagements. It is only those with myopic thinking that will not understand that the infrastructural project being witnessed in the state today is an opener for the comforts of our youths tomorrow.
11. Sir, if you will be privileged to assume another political office to impact the lives of the youths better, which office would it be?
Well, it is God that gives position. I am presently nursing an ambition to run for the House of Representatives because no matter how brilliant your idea is, it will not meet national or global standard if you continue to localize it. We must be able to facilitate bills that will prosper the interests of the youths and not just mere good wishes as our contributions.
12. Sir, as the World celebrates the International Youth Day on August 12 with a theme coined as SAFE SPACES FOR YOUTH, do you think the political arena is safe enough for the youths?
That's part of my worry. For a youth to contest, there are constraints. The first constraint is money. How will a jobless youth survive the political arena? There are fundamental challenges. We need a well planned life for our youths. A country cannot give what it does not have; where are the safe spaces for our youths in terms of health, academics, welfare, governance, and others? It is a good theme for the right moment, especially for Nigeria.
13. What is your advice for the youths of Ogun State?
Well, I urge the youths to be focus, more active and responsible in their various engagements. I also appeal the youths become more politically active in the interest of their future. I am confident the good youths and people of Ogun State are always ready to go. Our state has been and remain the gateway to everything good in Nigeria. The track record is there.
Credit: Akolawole Shoremi, Tajudeen Adeleye