Akwa Ibom Youth Development Cluster Writes Monday Uko, Demands Formulation of State Youth Policy
By Ekemini Simon
The Youth Development Cluster, Akwa Ibom State (YDC-AKS) has written an open letter to the Akwa Ibom State Commissioner for Youth and Sports, Mr. Monday Ebong Uko demanding him to formulate State youth policy for Akwa Ibom State.
The Youth Development Cluster says by adhering to their call, the Commissioner will leave a legacy for young people in Akwa Ibom State.
The Open letter accessed by TheMail Newspaper called on the Commissioner to set-up a State Youth Policy Steering Committee and Technical Working Group for the formulation of the State Youth Policy.
The group noted that among several other benefits, the State Youth Policy would ensure that the needs, problems, and ambitions of Akwa Ibom youth are addressed through an integrated and balanced approach thus promoting growth, productivity, wellbeing, and security of lives.
They added “Appropriate services and structures required to fulfill the needs and aspirations of young people from a pro-youth perspective is established to help improve the situation of young persons.
“It helps identify the roles and contribution of society and various groups to the development of young people while providing government with priority target areas to allocate resources such as to curb high youth unemployment and poverty.”
The Youth Development Cluster further called on the Government of Akwa Ibom State to approve the release of the budgetary allocation for the formulation of the State Youth Policy as approved and contained in the 2023 Appropriation Law.
They equally asked the Commissioner to speak with the Governor to assent to the Akwa Ibom Youth Development Fund (AKYDF) bill before this administration winds down.
The 14 organisations that signed the Open letter are Youth Initiative for Policy Advocacy, Reorientation & Economic Development (YouthPRIDE), Greater Tomorrow Initiative (GTI), Nigerian Youth Chamber of Commerce (NYCC), Youth for Change and Social Life Development Foundation (YOFCI), Coalition of Youth Advocates on Electioneering in Nigeria (CYAN), Youth Alive Foundation (YAF), Policy Alert, Bestway Initiative for Health, Education and Self-sufficiency (BIHES), Save the Constellation of Children (STCC), Akwa Ibom Youth Chambers (AKYC), Global Aids for the Needy and Vulnerable Initiative (GANEVI), Clement Isong Foundation (CIF), Care Team Nigeria and Akwa Ibom State Association of the Deaf.