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Govt, Youths And Green Skills: Which Way Forward?

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Fortnight ago, countries all over the world observed the International Youth Day (IYD). A day set aside by the United Nations to draw worldwide focus towards various issues affecting youths.
It offers a platform to honour qualities of youth and the potentials that they hold towards development of their societies. The celebration of the day also affords an opportunity for every country to assess their investment in youth as well as appreciate the roles youths play in different sectors of government.
Remarkably, this year’s celebration had as its theme, “Green Skills For Youth: Towards a Sustainable World”.
Here, in Rivers State, the IYD was observed with a sub-theme: “Artificial Intelligence as a Subsisting Spectrum and how Rivers Youth Can Buy In”, at an event that took place at the Obi Wali International Conference Center, Port Harcourt.
The occasion was graced by the Rivers State, Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, though represented by the state Commissioner For Education, Prof. Prince Chinedu Mmom.
 It is imperative to seek an understanding of what Artificial Intelligence (AI) is. It is the ability of a computer or a robot controlled by a computer to do tasks that are usually done by humans because they require human intelligence and machines to mimic the problem-solving and decision-making capabilities of the human mind.
The youth of today are growing up surrounded by artificial intelligence. Their values, ways of thinking, and moral codes are all shaped not only by their parents or immediate caregivers but also by the technology that is ever-present in their daily lives.
Artificial intelligence is everywhere. AI is not just about robots or self navigating vehicles, it is on the internet, on social media and on smart devices. One of the most common misconceptions about AI is the danger that it can pose. But in the modern world, AI can become an essential piece of technology that can help society progress, as long as it is made for this purpose.
On the other hand, green skills are knowledge, abilities, values and attitudes needed to live in, develop and support a sustainable resource – efficient society.
The need to transition towards more environmentally sustainable modes of production and consumption has become imperative for developed as well as for developing countries.
The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals 9 and 12 include the target of upgrading infrastructure and retrofitting industries to make them sustainable and also achieve sustainable management and efficient use of natural resources by 2030.
The greening of the economy will no doubt change the skills required and the tasks involved in many of the existing occupations.
As the world tackles the escalating challenges posed by climate change and environmental degradation, the involvement of young minds in sustainable initiatives has become more significant than ever.
One of the most effective tools in their depository is Artificial Intelligence which has become known as crucial green skill that empowers youth to address environmental issues and contribute to a sustainable future.
With the ability to analyse vast amounts of data, identify patterns and make predictions, AI is revolutionising industries and empowering individuals to develop cutting -edge solutions to environmental challenges.
According to reports, AI can apply powerful predictive capabilities and intelligent grid systems to manage the supply and demand of renewable energy. This can be in form of predicting more accurate weather forecasts, optimize efficiency, cut costs, and unnecessary carbon pollution generation.
This however, comes down to green artificial intelligence which is an artificial intelligence that
uses lower comiputational costs to help reduce carbon emissions. It combines the immense value of artificial intelligence with the green values that is needed to lower carbon emissions and protect the planet from further climate change.
Green AI can also help optimize traffic flow, reduce energy consumption and improve waste management in cities using AI enabled camera’s and sensors. This can help reduce carbon emissions and promote sustainable urban development.
The Green General Skill Index identifies four groups of work tasks important for green occupations. They include, engineering and technical skills, design, construction and assesment of technology. This is needed for eco buildings, renewable energy design and energy saving research and development projects.
Science skills, in high demand in the utility sector that provides basic amenities such as water, sewage services and electricity.
Operation management skills are also required to support green activities in forms through life-cycle management and cooperation with external actors including customers. Such skills are important and include sales engineers, climate change analysts, sustainability specialists, chief sustainability officers and transportation planners.
Lastly, monitoring skills include technical and legal aspects of business activities that are fundamentally different from the result of engineering or science. They prefer the skills required to assess the observance of technical criteria and legal standards. Some of the skills include environmental compliance inspectors, nuclear monitoring inspectors, nuclear monitoring technicians, emergency management directors, and legal assistants.
In addition to these skills, a range of soft skills are also considered to be important, not only for green skills, but generally for “skills of the future”. These include design hinking, creating adaptability, artificial intelligence, resilience and even empathy.
According to statistics, demand for green skills is more than supply. The World Economic Forum( WEF) explains that the environmental and renewables sector has seen 237% explosion of jobs over the past five years. Worldwide, green talent is on the rise from 9.6% in 2015 to 13.3% in 2021, a growth rate of 38.5% according to Linkedin.
WEF further explains that, more than half of the jobs by 2030 will require an understanding of digital technology. Young people must be able to effectively use digital tools and platforms to solve problems and create value.
At the celebration of the 2023 IYD organised by the Rivers State Government and attended by youths from the 23 local government areas of the state, the Rivers State Government restated its resolve to do everything possible to ensure youth development in the state.
Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, who spoke through the state Commissioner for Education, Prof.Chinedu Mmom, said youths formed the cornerstone of the administration’s development agenda and promised to make youth mentorship a policy focus of his administration.
Governor Fubara reasoned that as leaders of tomorrow, youths need to be armed with skills and knowledge that would help them to fill in leadership positions in the future.
At the federal level, President Bola Tinubu had reaffirmed the commitment of the Federal Government to create meaningful opportunities for Nigerian youth, through youth empowerment which is a fundamental pillar of all reform actions being implemented across sectors of the economy.
Also, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Abbas Tajudeen at the IYD charged Nigerian youths on the imperatives of skills acquisition to explore and use their talents for national development. He stated this in a statement signed by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Musa Abdullahi Krishi to mark this year’s IYD.
He noted that Nigerian youths have abundant talents and resilience which they have exhibited over the years, as well as passion for the country.
The Coca-Cola Foundation which also celebrated this year’s IYD restated its steadfast commitment to empowering Nigerian youths and cultivating a sustainable future together.
Empowering youths to take the lead for a sustainable future, the Strategy for Mentoring Initiative and Leadership Empowerment (S.M.I.L.E) organised a youth summit to foster youth leadership and driving positive change for the future.
The United Nations Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator for Nigeria, Mr. Matthias Schmale, who spoke during the programme organised by SMILE highlighted the importance of youth acquiring green skills to enable them access green jobs and foster a sustainable world.
The skills needed transition is directly clear. This cannot be done alone. Governmental collaboration with the business community can help build an engine for change and help the whole world move into greener future that works for everyone.
For Nigerian youths to acquire the capacity to compete for the ever increasing green skills jobs at the global, continental and regional levels, governments at all levels must deliberately empower the youths with knowledge. This talk should not end as a one- day event. By the time of the celebration of International Youth Day next year, we should be able to take stock and know what progress has been made in this direction.
By: Ibinabo Ogolo
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Children And Basics Of Family

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It is the idea of God that family should exit. Children form part of the family. God loves family so much that Jesus was born into the family of Joseph.
Everyone’s family is good and important. Children should not look down on their family whether they are rich or poor.
Children should respect and honour their family and foster love among their siblings. They should work together and make peace in the family. They should always stand in the gap. It is good for family members to carry all along since everyone may not be doing well.
The Christianity that children learn is practised in family. Faith-based organisations do a great job in moulding children’s character. Those are the behaviours that children exhibit towards siblings in family.
Every child born in a family is there for a purpose. A baby born into a family is supplying something. It may be joy, wealth and so on. Everyone is important in a family.
Adolescents who have graduated from school but may not be contributing financially can do one or two things at home. You can engage in preparing meals at home while parents are away for a job or business. Contributing in house chores will go a long way to relieve parents of stress after a day’s job.
What do you contribute to your family, especially during holidays both in nuclear and extended family?
The family you were born is constant but friends are temporary. You can decide not to continue in friendship but you cannot cut off your family. No matter how bad you think your family is and you decide to leave home, you must surely return. Your friends can harbour you for a while.
The child’s first identity comes from the family. What the child learns first comes from the family.
Family is the centre of love and care. People have started playing down on marriage because of neglect on basics of family. Marriage starts today and and the next few months, it is threatened. Respect for family plays a crucial role in marriage.
No child grows without parental control and influence. If a child refuses to grow without taking instructions from parents, he may grow up being wild. There are consequences when children do not obey their parents. There are those who want to be rebellious against their parents. They should know that their length of days are tied to their parents.
Your bioligical parents know you more than every other person. There is the wisdom and knowledge your parents have that you do not so it is proper to listen to them before choosing carriers both in academics and job. A young man or woman can choose who to get married to, but a greater role in the choice of who to marry and the marriage proper comes from the parents.
They know what is best for you. No matter how modern trends will influence you and prove it wrong, parent is the key. No one can love you more than your parents because they are your blood.
A lot of parents have been traumatised due to the fact that children they nurtured and trained turned their back on them at older age. Children should not abandon their parents for any reason.
As you grow up, situations may arise in marriage when you decide it is over with your spouse, but no matter the level of provocation with your parents, they will not despise you. Parents will also play a role in that regard. Problem arises in every family but how it is handled matters a lot.
Some children honour their mentors more than their parents. Although there are parents who shy away from their responsibilities. It is important that parents take full responsibility of their children. You cannot bring a child to the planet earth and refuse to perform roles as a parent. But parents may not quantify what they spent from childhood to adolescence. That is a blessing children cannot get from another person.
There are people who have attributed their failure in life to the fact that their parents, especially mothers are witchcraft. It is wrong to feel that your mother is instrumental to your failure in life. The only way to success is hardwork.
Let money not determine the level of love for your parents. Wherever a child goes, family is constant.

Eunice Choko-Kayode

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Who Should Name A Child?

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Naturally, when a child is born, it is the role of the father and mother to decide a suitable name for the child. The husband and wife normally discuss and suggest the English or vernacular name of the baby.
But sometimes, when a baby comes into a family, grandparents hearts are usually filled with joy to the extent that they want to answer present, by giving their own names not minding the fact that the biological parents have given theirs.
This happens mostly when the marriage is an inter-tribal one. It also happens even in intra-tribal marriage. Grandparents want equal representation as far as naming a child is concerned. They also have special names as a result of circumstances surrounding the birth of the child.
This is still happening till date.
A lot of people have viewed this in different ways but there is nothing wrong about it. The most important thing is that the child bears as many names as he or she can. But one thing is certain, the child must bear one name in school.
Should circumstance determine a child’s name?
Women who are more emotional are always eager to name their children considering the circumstances surrounding the child’s conception and arrival.
The issue of grandparents naming a child comes up mostly when it is the first of the family.
In naming children by some parents in the olden days, they named their children according to the days in the week in which they were born, like Sunday, Monday, Friday and so on.
You may be shocked to hear that whether a child is given 10 names by parents or grandparents, when he or she grows up, will decide to change. There are several cases where some persons decided to change especially when they feel that the names given by their parents and grandparents do not give them joy. If they are not doing well in life, they may claim that their misfortune is caused by the name their parents.

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Children’s Performance Can Make Or Mar Them

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Competition among children in schools be it primary, (kindergarten) and secondary come in different forms. It can be Mathematics , debate, quiz, spelling bee,competition, from organisations like Cowbell, multi-national companies, faith-based organisations among others.
They are organised mostly for selected intelligent ones, the best among their peers to represent a class, school or group. Prizes are normally set aside for the best as well as consolation prizes for runners-up at the end of each session.
The question is, are children willing to accept defeat when they fail? As parents, guardians, can you encourage your children or wards to accept defeat instead of shouting and comparing them with others who may be performing better either in schools or outside.
Some parents may be blaming their children for not doing well in competitions. They will like to tell their children if others who may perform better have ten heads. Those group of parents blame their children for every failure.
For your children to do better in competition, the parents too must have emotional intelligence. When you continue to blame your children for failure, how intelligent are you?
Some parents always want their children to be in the 1st position and unhappy whenever they secure 2nd position. There were instances where children smashed their trophies because they never got the position they wanted to get and their parents supported them.
Children should be able to accept it whether they win or not. They should be encouraged for every performance. Discourage the issue of “shame, shame, shame, shame”.
A parent says she always tells her children to win even if they will fail. Always give them the mentality that they can win. Children should be given the impression that they can win prizes and laurels in every competition.
Parents should not isolate their children from others in the neighbourhood. Allow them to play with others. Don’t threaten your children that you may not pay their schools fees if they fail. Comparing them with others may encourage or discourage them.
Coming first or getting award as a first class student from the university sometimes does not mean that the person is the best. And if the child does not merit any award in the lower classes, does not mean that he can not merit first class also.
It should be noted that coming first in academic competition may not really mean that the competitor will be the best at work place or business.
Accepting defeat is a way to move higher. Even if a child who competed with others did not come first, there are consolation prizes for runners-up. When you advise the child to accept defeat, you are encouraging her to win in next competition.
Remember all children cannot be on the same knowledge level Their learning abilities defer.

Eunice Choko-Kayode

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