Issues
Promoting Youth Volunteerism For National Dev
Volunteerism is globally
acknowledged as a tool for promoting systemic change in the society.
Analysts believe that volunteerism is a two-way phenomenon, as it enables the volunteers to spur change in others, while their own lives are transformed via the act of volunteering.
The United Nations (UN), in recognition of the importance of volunteerism, declared Dec. 5 of every year as the International Volunteer Day.
The theme for the 2013 International Volunteer Day was “Youth Volunteering for a Better World”.
UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon, in his message on the day, said that there were 1.2 billion youths in the world today with incredible potential to tackle challenges and act as agents of change.
“When young people volunteer, the opportunity provides them with valuable life and job skills; it strengthens their capacity to lead and become engaged in their communities and global society.
“Volunteerism is a two-way street. Even as volunteers help generate positive change for others; their own lives are often transformed by the act of volunteering itself,’’ he said.
Sharing similar sentiments, Hajiya Amina Abdullahi, the Director of Nigerian National Volunteer Service (NNVS), urged young Nigerians to inculcate the habit of volunteerism so as to stimulate the country’s development.
“Money is not everything; volunteerism is the willingness to be involved in community development. If the youth are engaged in volunteerism, it will go a long way in making the country a better place.
“Youth volunteerism also provides skills and opportunities for youth employment and entrepreneurship.
“The youth can identify ways of building their own community positively as a way of contributing their quota to the growth of the society.
“We want to inculcate the spirit of volunteerism into the Nigerian youth because volunteerism has to come from within the people’s minds; volunteerism itself is service to humanity.
“If in between the youth get little stipend, fine; but if not, they get satisfaction in their heart that they have contributed to the improvement of the people’s lives,’’ she said.
Abdullahi said that volunteerism could be in the area of providing services, teaching skills, traffic control and advocacy for HIV/AIDS as well as climate change, among others.
Analysts draw attention to the recent action of Gov. Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State as a demonstration of a society that appreciates volunteerism.
The governor offered employment to three persons, including two physically challenged persons, as traffic wardens.
The two physically challenged persons, before their employment, voluntarily controlled traffic in the Marina axis of Lagos without payment.
Announcing the offer, Fashola said: “They have been directing traffic in Lagos without reward for years, but their story will change from today.
“Today, we are engaging them with rewards. We will keep them at the post where they have served faithfully, and they will continue to do what they have done for years.
“We believe that they have done all these because of the passion they have for the job. The Head of Service will issue them their letters of employment,’’ Fashola said.
Analysts, nonetheless, attribute the low level of volunteerism in the country to economic hardship.
Mr Cyril Ofili, a Management Consultant in Work Ethics, said that volunteerism was a satisfying activity in European and American countries.
He, however, noted that the situation was not the same in Nigeria because of the economic hardship facing most citizens.
“Every Nigerian wants to do something for something because if you go out to do volunteer work and you return home hungry, nobody looks at you.
“In the midst of unemployment, it is difficult for the youth to render volunteer services with empty stomach, but in ideal societies, a volunteer can survive without having to beg for food.
“When people are deprived in a society, it is the origin of self-centredness because everybody struggles to eke out a living; they look up for assistance and there is no help from anywhere.
“When people do not enjoy those things that they should naturally enjoy as citizens, when they struggle to fend for themselves because nobody cares for them; that is the beginning of individualism.
“Let leaders begin to think less about themselves and more about the people. When the government addresses the problems of the people with the resources of the nation, the citizens will always be ready and willing to serve the country,” Ofili said.
All the same, Abdullahi said that the NNVS had embarked on various activities to encourage Nigerians to render voluntary services.
“Government has a role to play. That is why NNVS has the mandate to promote and encourage the spirit of volunteerism among Nigerians.
“The youth are the leaders of tomorrow and that is why we want to inculcate the spirit of volunteerism into them so that they will grow up with it.
“Even if they have white-collar jobs, they can set aside a percentage of their salary to carry out voluntary services as part-time hobbies,” she said.
Nevertheless, Ofili advised the country’s leaders to imbibe the virtues of selfless service, patriotism and honesty so as to encourage the citizens, particularly the youth, to adopt volunteerism.
“In Europe and America, every citizen is accommodated in government plans, as an individual and the smallest person is known by the government and planned for.
“You can go to the supermarket with your trolley, fill it with goods and give a cheque to the person at the counter.
“This is because some people are reasonable enough to know that you ought to live as they are living; they have calculated how much you need to survive in a week or month as a human being and planned for it.
“Some time ago in France, the producers of Bournvita wanted to increase its price but the government said that workers would not be able to purchase it unless each worker’s salary is increased by the margin with which Bournvita would increase the price.
“The price of Bournvita could not be increased until after three months when the government added the margin to people’s salaries. That is where people care for others.
“In such situation, if you talk of volunteerism, people will be eager and interested in participating in it,’’ Ofili added.
Mr Dare Atoye, the Executive Director of Adopt a Goal for Development Initiative, a non-governmental organisation, underscored the need for Nigeria to adopt a purposeful goal which would lead to a total overhaul of the ways the citizens were doing things.
“As a country, we must develop areas where we have a comparative advantage; as individuals, we must look at our positive attributes and see how we can use them to effect a change in our society.
“We must learn to share with others; we should not be self-centred. The general idea in our society today is that when someone donates money, the problems are solved.
“But the solution to problems is the same as it has always been — people helping other people. You cannot become successful without sharing your resources with others.
“The U.S. is, perhaps, the greatest country in the world but the fact is that individuals, and not the U.S. government, spearheaded America’s development.
“If Nigeria must be one of the greatest countries in the world, the citizens must make concerted efforts to build the country and preserve it for future generations.
“So, let us all begin to do the right thing now,’’ he added.
Volunteerism is globally acknowledged as a tool for promoting systemic change in the society.
Analysts believe that volunteerism is a two-way phenomenon, as it enables the volunteers to spur change in others, while their own lives are transformed via the act of volunteering.
The United Nations (UN), in recognition of the importance of volunteerism, declared Dec. 5 of every year as the International Volunteer Day.
The theme for the 2013 International Volunteer Day was “Youth Volunteering for a Better World”.
UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon, in his message on the day, said that there were 1.2 billion youths in the world today with incredible potential to tackle challenges and act as agents of change.
“When young people volunteer, the opportunity provides them with valuable life and job skills; it strengthens their capacity to lead and become engaged in their communities and global society.
“Volunteerism is a two-way street. Even as volunteers help generate positive change for others; their own lives are often transformed by the act of volunteering itself,’’ he said.
Sharing similar sentiments, Hajiya Amina Abdullahi, the Director of Nigerian National Volunteer Service (NNVS), urged young Nigerians to inculcate the habit of volunteerism so as to stimulate the country’s development.
“Money is not everything; volunteerism is the willingness to be involved in community development. If the youth are engaged in volunteerism, it will go a long way in making the country a better place.
“Youth volunteerism also provides skills and opportunities for youth employment and entrepreneurship.
“The youth can identify ways of building their own community positively as a way of contributing their quota to the growth of the society.
“We want to inculcate the spirit of volunteerism into the Nigerian youth because volunteerism has to come from within the people’s minds; volunteerism itself is service to humanity.
keep them at the post where they have served faithfully, and they will continue to do what they have done for years.
“We believe that they have done all these because of the passion they have for the job. The Head of Service will issue them their letters of employment,’’ Fashola said.
Analysts, nonetheless, attribute the low level of volunteerism in the country to economic hardship.
Mr Cyril Ofili, a Management Consultant in Work Ethics, said that volunteerism was a satisfying activity in European and American countries.
He, however, noted that the situation was not the same in Nigeria because of the economic hardship facing most citizens.
“Every Nigerian wants to do something for something because if you go out to do volunteer work and you return home hungry, nobody looks at you.
“In the midst of unemployment, it is difficult for the youth to render volunteer services with empty stomach, but in ideal societies, a volunteer can survive without having to beg for food.
“When people are deprived in a society, it is the origin of self-centredness because everybody struggles to eke out a living; they look up for assistance and there is no help from anywhere.
“When people do not enjoy those things that they should naturally enjoy as citizens, when they struggle to fend for themselves because nobody cares for them; that is the beginning of individualism.
“Let leaders begin to think less about themselves and more about the people. When the government addresses the problems of the people with the resources of the nation, the citizens will always be ready and willing to serve the country,” Ofili said.
All the same, Abdullahi said that the NNVS had embarked on various activities to encourage Nigerians to render voluntary services.
“Government has a role to play. That is why NNVS has the mandate to promote and encourage the spirit of volunteerism among Nigerians.
“The youth are the leaders of tomorrow and that is why we want to inculcate the spirit of volunteerism into them so that they will grow up with it.
“Even if they have white-collar jobs, they can set aside a percentage of their salary to carry out voluntary services as part-time hobbies,” she said.
Nevertheless, Ofili advised the country’s leaders to imbibe the virtues of selfless service, patriotism and honesty so as to encourage the citizens, particularly the youth, to adopt volunteerism.
“In Europe and America, every citizen is accommodated in government plans, as an individual and the smallest person is known by the government and planned for.
“You can go to the supermarket with your trolley, fill it with goods and give a cheque to the person at the counter.
“This is because some people are reasonable enough to know that you ought to live as they are living; they have calculated how much you need to survive in a week or month as a human being and planned for it.
“Some time ago in France, the producers of Bournvita wanted to increase its price but the government said that workers would not be able to purchase it unless each worker’s salary is increased by the margin with which Bournvita would increase the price.
“The price of Bournvita could not be increased until after three months when the government added the margin to people’s salaries. That is where people care for others.
“In such situation, if you talk of volunteerism, people will be eager and interested in participating in it,’’ Ofili added.
Mr Dare Atoye, the Executive Director of Adopt a Goal for Development Initiative, a non-governmental organisation, underscored the need for Nigeria to adopt a purposeful goal which would lead to a total overhaul of the ways the citizens were doing things.
“As a country, we must develop areas where we have a comparative advantage; as individuals, we must look at our positive attributes and see how we can use them to effect a change in our society.
“We must learn to share with others; we should not be self-centred. The general idea in our society today is that when someone donates money, the problems are solved.
“But the solution to problems is the same as it has always been people helping other people. You cannot become successful without sharing your resources with others.
“The U.S. is, perhaps, the greatest country in the world but the fact is that individuals, and not the U.S. government, spearheaded America’s development.
“If Nigeria must be one of the greatest countries in the world, the citizens must make concerted efforts to build the country and preserve it for future generations.
** If used, please credit the writer as well as News Agency of Nigeria (NAN)
Prudence Arobani
Programme analyst, United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), Tochie Odele (right), addressing youths during a Town Hall meeting in Abuja recently.
This is an open letter to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Chief Nyesom Wike.
Your Excellency,
Sir, ordinarily, I would not be writing an open letter to you, but like a wise man once said, “Silence would be Treason.” So I prefer to stay alive than face the consequences of silence in the face of crime. With each passing day, and as the socio-political tides continue to turn, it has become more pertinent that more people speak up in a concerted MANNER to prevent the death of our party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), as we appear to be, in the words of W. B. Yeats, “turning and turning in the widening gyre” heading for an end where the falcon will no longer hear the falconer
It is unfortunate that since losing control of the Federal Government, with the loss of President Goodluck Jonathan at the poll in 2015, our party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has continued on a downward spiral. It is much more painful, that where it is expected that leaders within the party should rise to the challenge and put an end to this decline of our great party, some have instead taken up roles as its undertaker.
It will be hypocritical to claim aloofness to what I believe is your grouse with the PDP and I am not a hypocrite. It will be uncharitable on my part to discountenance the role you have played in strengthening the PDP from 2015 up until the last Presidential primaries of the party. It is my belief that your grouse against certain members of the party who you perceived worked against the party and abandoned it in 2015 and then came around much later to take control of the party, is justified. Also know that your decision to remain in the Party and stifle its progress on the other hand, as a sort of payback, stands condemned. For a man of your pedigree and stature, it is a dishonorable act, highly dishonorable and stands as testimony against all you claim to stand for.
At least, it can be argued that those who you hold this grudge against, abandoned the party completely and did not sit back while actively working to destroy it from within. But what then can be the argument on your own part, seeing that those you are currently working with against your party are the same people who set in motion, and executed surgically, the plans that not only ended our Party’s leadership at the centre, but ended up dislodging the first Niger Deltan to occupy Aso Rock as Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces. Is this not akin to “cutting off one’s nose to spite one’s face?” That will be worse than folly. Let us not throw away the baby with the bath water because we do not like the soap used in bathing the baby. It will be a grave mistake.
Honourable Minister, sir, it is rather unfortunate that of all people, you have also decided to play the role of an undertaker not only for our party, but for our dear Rivers State.
I will like to take you down memory lane a little. Let me remind you of your emergence as Guber candidate of the PDP in Rivers State, against all fairness and justice in 2014. You will remember that despite the reality being that you as an Ikwerre man was poised to replace a fellow Ikwerre man in Governor Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi in our multiethnic state, Rivers people overwhelmingly stood by you and pushed for your emergence as Executive Governor of Rivers State in 2015. I dare say that your popularity in the entire Niger Delta region was at an all-time high at this point.
I want you to understand why you were loved across board leading to your eventual emergence as Governor of Rivers State in 2015; it was because when it looked like all were against the second term ambitions of the first Niger Delta man to emerge as President of Nigeria, you became not just a pillar but a beacon of resistance by standing for Goodluck Jonathan. Rivers people, as grateful and rewarding as they can be, paid you back by ensuring your electoral victory against the incumbent All Progressives Congress (APC) led by your predecessor. On your emergence, where there were second term Governors in the region, you, a first term Governor, was seen by the people as not just the leader of the PDP, but the leader of the entire Niger Delta region. You earned it, and no one could dispute it.
In 2019, when your re-election bid was being challenged ferociously, Rivers people once again stood solidly behind you. Many were killed in the process of defending your votes. Do you remember Dr. Ferry Gberegbe that was shot and killed while trying to protect your votes in Khana Local Government Area? There are many more unnamed and unrecognised sons and daughters of Rivers State who sacrificed their lives so that you could emerge as a second term Governor of Rivers State.
In 2022/23, Honourable Minister, you oversaw a party primary across board that saw some candidates imprisoned and internal party democracy jettisoned for your wishes, leading to the emergence of flag bearers of our party all singlehandedly picked by you. You have on more than one occasion publicly stated that you paid for all their forms. Even those shortchanged in this process licked their wounds and continued to play their roles as party members to ensure the success of the party at all levels. In what will go down as one of the most keenly contested elections in recent Rivers history, with formidable candidates like Senator Magnus Abe of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Mr Tonye Cole of the All Progressives Congress (APC), and the vibrant youth driven Labour Party (LP), PDP emerged victorious across board except for Phalga Constituency 1 that was lost to the Labour Party. (Not that you did not loose in some other LGA’s but let’s stick to the official figures declared by INEC).
It begs the question, why then do you want to burn down Rivers State, when everyone who now holds political office emerged through a process designed and endorsed by you? Is it that you do not care about Rivers people and you are all about yourself? If so, I am forced to believe that those around you are not telling you the truth. The truth being that in a state where your words were law; where houses and businesses could be demolished or closed down without any recourse to legalities, where Executive Orders could be deployed to stifle the opposition, that your popularity is now at an all-time low. Probably because they are afraid of you, or of losing the benefits they gain from you, they fail to tell you that what you might perceive as a battle against your successor, has slowly but gradually degenerating into a battle against Rivers State and Rivers people. You know, there is a popular saying that, a man can cook for the community and the community will finish the food, but when a community decides to cook for one man, the reverse is the case.
LEAVE FUBARA ALONE
You have gone on and on about being betrayed by Governor Siminalayi Fubara. You point fingers forgetting that some of those same fingers quick to spot betrayals point straight back at you. It is not Governor Fubara that has betrayed the PDP by working against it in the just concluded General Election, and working with the opposition at the State and Federal level to destabilise the party. It is you, Honourable Minister. It is not Governor Fubara that betrayed Rivers people by instigating a political crisis with propensity to escalate ethnic tensions in Rivers State. It is you Honourable Minister. It is not Governor Fubara that has declared himself God over all in Rivers State and has no qualms with burning the state to the ground to prove a point. It is you Honourable Minister. It is you Honourable Minister who told the world that the APC was a cancer and you can never support a cancerous party. It is you Honourable Minister who ended up facilitating the emergence of the same “cancerous” APC that has accelerated the economic decline of this country and further impoverished our people with no remorse. All so you can be a Minister of the Federal Capital Territory? The lack of self awareness is gobsmacking.
Some days back I came across a video where you talked about death and how you do not cry when you hear about the death of some people because you have no idea what might have caused it considering many a politician swear “over dead bodies” and still go back on their words. Those words made me think, and I could see the reason behind them. You see, in chosing to be God in the affairs of Rivers people, you have closed your eyes and ears to reason; you see nothing and hear nothing that can cause you to rethink on the path you have chosen. In your quest to “show Fubara” you have unwittingly united a vast majority of Rivers people behind him, so much that even those who despised him because of you, now like or love him, because of you too. In your scheming, I will advise you not to forget that “the voice of the people is the voice of God”.
Note that the war which you have or are waging against Governor Fubara, has gone beyond being merely political as you might see in your minds eye. It is now one that, fortunately for some and unfortunately for others, has evolved into a war against Rivers people. It is good to point out that no one has taken a stand against Rivers people and won. No one has gone against God and won. In your defiant characteristic manner, it will be unfortunate if you believe your own hubris and that of those around you on the possibility of you being the first to successfully go against Rivers people. It will be a needless gamble; one where if you win you create more enemies for yourself than you can withstand on your political journey, and if you lose, your legacy becomes an inglorious and irredeemable one in Rivers State, the Niger Delta, and Nigeria at large. For your sake as regards posterity, it is my greatest wish that you have a moment of sobriety and a deep reflection and introspection on this path you have chosen.
Honourable Minister, sir, what is left of your legacy is on the brink of being completely desecrated and relegated to the dustbin of our political history, and it will be a sad end to what I will say has been a wonderful political career that many can only dream of. The ball is in your court, and may God Almighty have mercy on us all and forgive us for our shortcomings.
Gabriel Baritulem Pidomson
Dr Pidomson is former Chief of Staff, Government House, Port Harcourt and former member, Rivers State House of Assembly.
In 2015, I made a conscious decision to invest my financial resources, my time, and energy into supporting Nyesom Wike’s gubernatorial campaign. I poured my heart and soul into ensuring Nyesom Wike emerged victorious even at the risk of my personal safety.
Again in 2019, I doubled down on my commitment. I invested a significant amount of money to procure campaign outfits for all twenty-three Local Governments Areas of Rivers State. I spared no expense in supplementing Wike’s election efforts in my own local government, and once again putting myself at great risk to safeguard the fairness and transparency of the electoral process.
However, despite my unwavering loyalty and sacrifices, I found myself abandoned and forgotten by Wike. Throughout his eight-year tenure, he failed to acknowledge my contributions or fulfill his promises and agreements. Even as a former Deputy Governor, Wike denied me my severance benefit.
My investment in Wike’s governorship was not just financial – it was a commitment of passion, dedication, and belief in a better future for Rivers State. Yet, his leadership style of dishonesty, greed, drunkenness and rash abuse of senior citizens brought me nothing but disappointment, misery and losses.
By the grace of God, today I speak not as a victim, but as a hero. I have accepted my losses, and I have moved on. And as I reflect on my experience, I cannot help but urge Wike to do the same and allow peace and development to reign in Rivers State.
Nyesom Wike, when you speak of investing in Governor Sim Fubara’s election, remember those like me who also invested in you. Remember the sacrifices I made, the risks I took, and the promises and agreements you left unfulfilled.
It is time for you, Wike, to let go of the past and allow Governor Sim Fubara the breathing space he needs to lead Rivers State forward. Allow him to focus on the challenges of good governance and the aspirations of the people. Spare him these unwarranted and ill-conceived political manoeuvrings founded on personal agenda and not for general good of Rivers State and her people.
I may have lost my investment on Wike, but I have not lost hope in the future of Rivers State. And together, we will continue to strive for a brighter tomorrow.
Long Live the Governor to Rivers State, Sir Siminialayi Fubara!
Long Live the Good People of Rivers State!!
Long Live the Federal Republic of Nigeria!!!
Engr Ikuru is former Deputy Governor of Rivers State.
Tele Ikuru
