The Federal Ministry of Youth Development has called on all state governments to develop state action plan on youth, peace and security for national development.
Mr Olubunmi Olusanya, Permanent Secretary of the ministry, made the call at the assessment and progress report workshop on the implementation national action plan in Yola on Saturday.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the workshop is in collaboration with the Nigeria Coalition on Youth, Peace and Security.
Olusanya, who was represented by Assistant Director, Mr Adedoyin Oyekan, said, the workshop was designed to evaluate the domestication process of the UNSCR 2250 in Nigeria.
“States that are yet to commence the process of developing their State Action Plans (SAPs) to promptly rise up to the occasion and get to work.
“While states that have started the process are encouraged to expedite action to ensure completion, in order to speed up the implementation process, as it cascades to grassroots.”
He said these would ensure the objective of inclusivity of the youth in maintenance of peace and security across Nigeria achievable.
According to him, the implementation exercise is expected to cut across all the local government areas in the country, beginning with pilot states of one state from each of the six geopolitical zones.
“It is only in such peaceful and rancor free society that we can have a country of our dream, where the youth will be able to excel with their potentials, in a politically stable country with virile economic development”, he said.
In his remarks, Mr Michael Ngula, Director, Youth Development, Ministry of Youth and Sports, Adamawa, said agenda and necessary commitment by government, aimed at recognising and amplifying the roles of young people as key stakeholders in peacebuilding, conflict resolution, and sustainable development.
According to him, in Adamawa, government has taken significant strides toward ensuring youth are not only participants but also leaders and drivers of peace processes.
Mr Ilugo Cletus, Country lead, Waranded Advisory Center, expressed the need for the plan to reflect local realities and community needs.
He called on all stakeholders to intensify efforts to cover all nooks and crannies of the country in the implementation process.