The Convener of Youth O’Clock Nigeria, Engineer Seth Francis, has harped the need for social change, stressing that skills are imperative towards achieving development.
Francis, who doubles as National Coordinator made this disclosure on Saturday in an interview with our correspondent shortly after the inauguration of Gombe branch of Youth O’Clock and training of voluntary uniform organisations at Gombe State University.
Francis said, “We feel the best way to change the narrative is to create self awareness in young people and understanding; we can’t get there without equipping ourselves with the necessary skills and knowledge. We believe Nigeria needs saviours, people that can boldly stand and be the change.”
While explaining the reason for training voluntary uniform organisations, Francis disclosed that the group is a non-partisan, “the people that cause problem in this country usually use voluntary organisations to do abnormal things. The best approach is to train them to create orderliness. We want people to be aware about what to do and what not to do. We are tired of things dividing us,” he said.
Speaking on the distinction between Youth O’Clock and other organisations, he added “We are not a political organisation and we don’t intend to change our stand. When we are deciding for leadership we are deciding for the young people irrespective of where the person is coming from. We are not just youth organisation but advocate for a transparent leadership. We are looking at the next 10 years we want to see 70 per cent of leadership taken over by young people and in the next two years we are going to have more than 10 million people under Youth O’Clock Nigeria. We know what we are doing, we are not doing the normal, we are doing the abnormal and many feel threatened. We are coming from different political groups but one thing that connects us together is the mindset for a better Nigeria. Nigerians should embrace change.”
Also speaking, Gombe State Coordinator of Youth O’Clock Nigeria Abdulaziz Labaran, said “We try to see with eagle eye and they have been volunteering for years no organisation has come to their rescue to bring them together for training but we just did to equip them.”
Labaran continued saying, “They (voluntary uniform organisations) are in our communities and they are gatekeepers. When things happen they respond first.”
On the group’s 2025 action plan, Labaran who doubles as Coordinator of 36 states’ coordinators added, “We are looking at five thematic areas including capacity building, community development service, developing advocacy tools, community mobilisation engagement.”
Speaking earling, Chairman of the occasion Special Adviser Donor Partners Coordination Office, Ishiyaku Babayo, who was represented by Muhammad Farouk of Human Capital Development Office called for collaborative efforts between the voluntary uniform organisations to achieve results.
Babayo also harped on the need for participants to step down lessons learned and be ambassadors of peace.
Our correspondent reports that the Chairman of the occasion announced award of undisclosed gifts to five best participants.
16 voluntary uniform organisations numbering 200 participants attended the one-day training.
The participants were trained on first aid, communication, fire fighting skills and teamwork
On his part, Special Adviser to Gombe State Governor on Security, Yusuf Danbayo, while lauding organisers called for involvement of military in subsequent trainings to achieve the desired results.
