A civil society organisation (CSO), and the Nigerian Institute of Journalism (NIJ) have concluded arrangements for a one-day community development summit, aimed at harnessing opportunities in rural communities for development.
The programme holds on June 10, 2022, at the NIJ as part of its students’ week celebration, is in collaboration with the Nnadoz Initiative on Community Leadership and Development.
Dignitaries expected at the event include, the Provost of the NIJ, Mr Gbenga Adefaye, the president of FullSteam Communication, Mr Femi Adepoju, as well as two presidential aspirants in the 2023 general elections, Otunba Dele Momodu, and Olufemi Ajadi Oguntoyinbo of the New Nigeria People’s Party, (NNPP).
Billed as facilitators are Dr. Raphael James, Director General, Center for Research, Information and Media Development; Azuh Arinze, Publisher /Editor in Chief, YES International! Magazine; BARR. Victoria Ibezim Ohaeri, Chief Executive Officer, Spaces for Change, Chief Executive of Afrolux World, Charles Kay Anyabuike; Asst. Editor, Ganni Fawehinmi Chambers and Nigeria Law Publication Ltd, BARR. Theophilus Akanwa, and a lecturer at the NIJ, Mr Cami Ezenwa.
“The idea is to help our communities discover their potentials, and understand best ways to unleash these for maximum impact”, a release cosigned by Olelewe Macwilliam N. Cord. /Chief Executive Officer, and Adedapo Adesanya, President Students Representatives Council, NIJ said.
It added that it had become defeatist to continue to focus only on government for development, but that with the summit, that hidden resources for sustainable community development would be bared.
According to him, should Nigeria begin to harness its resources effectively, it stood a chance of surpassing China in the area of productivity in the nearest future.
He said the programme was one way of emphasizing this desirability, adding that the organisers were already seeking partnership and collaboration opportunities with local and international agencies, other nonprofit making organisations, and relevant agencies in making this happen.
Listing some target collaborators as the Raw Materials Research & Development Council (RMRCD), United States Agency for International Development (USAID), United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) as well as Rotary International, the release added:
“We call on all concerned agencies and bodies to partner with us to realise this goal of unbundling the huge potential in our communities and youths.
“At the end of the day, our target is to be able to provide about 20 million Nigerian youths with useful skills that could help them secure gainful employment”,
They also reaffirmed the commitment of the organisation to fighting idleness, saying that was one sure way of keeping people, especially the young ones off harm’s way.