UNITED NATIONS: August 12th every year is celebrated as the international youth day. This day, was set aside by the United Nations Organisation (UNO) General Assembly to celebrate youths and bring to the front burner issues that affect the youth the world over. The day was chosen by the UNO General Assembly on December 17th 1999, after adopting the Lisbon conference of the previous year.
Basic Facts
- The General Assembly of the UNO on December 17th, 1999, recommended that public information activities be organized to support the Day as a way to promote better awareness of the World Programme of Action for Youth, adopted by the General Assembly in 1996 (resolution 50/81).
- Security Council Resolution 2250 on Youth, Peace and Security acknowledges the need to engage young peacebuilders in promoting peace and countering extremism, and clearly positions youth as important partners in the global efforts.
- The theme for this year`s international youth day is “intergenerational solidarity: Creating a world for all ages”
What We Know
At the UNO General Assembly, held on December 17th 1999, the world adopted August 12th every year as a day to mark international youth day. The day is to help focus attention on challenges confronting the youths the world over.
The resolution was preceded by the World Conference of Ministers Responsible for Youth (Lisbon, 8-12 August 1998). It was the Lisbon conference that picked 12 August as International Youth Day.
The General Assembly of the UNO, also recommended that public information activities be organized to support the Day as a way to promote better awareness of the World Programme of Action for Youth, adopted by the General Assembly in 1996 (resolution 50/81).
Since then till date, it has always been a weeklong activities which peaks on August 12th. This year, the theme is “intergenerational solidarity: Creating a World for All Ages”. This year celebration, is geared towards breaking down barriers and work as one to achieve a more equitable, just and inclusive world for all.
Notable Quotes
Speaking in a video message to mark the international youth day, the UNO Secretary General, Mr. Antonio Guterres said:
“Today, we celebrate International Youth Day, and the power of partnerships across generations.”
“This year’s theme — “Intergenerational Solidarity: Creating a World for All Ages” — reminds us of a basic truth: we need people of all ages, young and old alike, to join forces to build a better world for all.”
“Too often, ageism, bias and discrimination prevent this essential collaboration. When young people are shut out of the decisions being made about their lives, or when older people are denied a chance to be heard, we all lose.”
“Solidarity and collaboration are more essential than ever, as our world faces a series of challenges that threaten our collective future.”
“From COVID-19 to climate change, to conflicts, poverty, inequality and discrimination, we need all hands on deck to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals and build the better, more peaceful future we all seek.”
“We need to support young people with massive investments in education and skills-building — including through next month’s Transforming Education Summit.”
“We also need to support gender equality and expanded opportunities for young people to participate in civic and political life.”
“It’s not enough to listen to young people — we need to integrate them into decision-making mechanisms at the local, national and international levels.”
“This is at the heart of our proposal to establish a new Youth Office at the United Nations.”
“And we need to ensure that older generations have access to social protection and opportunities to give back to their communities and share the decades of lived experience they have accumulated.”
“On this important day, let’s join hands across generations to break down barriers, and work as one to achieve a more equitable, just and inclusive world for all people.”
Catch-up
Good a thing, the UNO in celebrating this year youth day have highlighted some of the challenges we face as youths. No doubt, youths and aged have in most cases bear the brunt of bad policies. In a conflict ridden world, majority of those who die in active combat are youths.
In a crime infested world, a youth is likely to be a victim, a suspect and even the criminal! And this has been the lot of the youth for ages. Of course the youth has also been at the fore of innovations, leadership and change.
Takeaway
The youth from dateless generation has always been not just an integral part of human population, but the anchor or which development is largely achieved.
It is through the youthful population that the future is guaranteed. Procreation is best achieved through the youthful population, the survival of a culture, civilization, invention, innovation and development is only guaranteed by how well the youth accept such and are willing to push it to tomorrow.
Indeed the youth have a better chance of tomorrow than the aging and perhaps dying old generation. However, the role of the old generation in making this happen, can’t be over emphasized.
The above brings to mind, a critical question of the condition of the Nigeria youth. In reality rather than theory, is their a plan for the Nigerian youth?
Are those in authority aware there is such a thing as international youth day? Are they keyed into the UNO objective?
Beyond the traditional somewhat cliche “youths are the leaders of tomorrow” what is the real plan for these youths to see tomorrow, not from the ICU (Intensive care unit) of life, but as an active and virile citizens driving the future for the next generation? What kind of youths are been planned for the tomorrow that is already upon us?
Beyond the rhetorics of policy makers and implementers, now is the time for the youth and government in Nigeria to think of tomorrow.
A youth battered with unemployment, economic hardship, threatened insecurity, poor education occasioned by poor policy and a now traditional ASUU strike would certainly not be in the right frame to assume leadership tomorrow and offer a dividend the older generation will be proud of.
The youth victim of drugs and “SARS” is certainly not who the present leadership wants to prepare for tomorrow. Hence, the time to act is now.
As the 2023 elections, comprising the presidential, national assembly, governorship and house of assembly elections knock, the Nigerian youths must rise up and resist every further attempt to keep them enslaved in their own country.
