Africa’s leading charity foundation, Baywood Foundation has launched a new book, Beyond Rhetorics, which seeks to proffer solutions to the many challenges Nigerian youths face.
During the launch, Emperor Chris Baywood Ibe, founder of Baywood Foundation called for the adaptation of the ‘Affirmative Action’ for African youths with a view to empowering and giving opportunities to youths to participate in politics and to improve lives in Nigeria.
Emperor Ibe mentioned that opportunities should be given to youths to take leadership positions. He also added that except youths are given opportunities to take responsibilities and tasks in this nation, they cannot be said to have failed this generation.
The Emperor said that Nigeria likes to talk yet no action is put forward, and he also explained that the title of the book, ‘Beyond Rhetoric’ is meant to proffer solutions to the challenges faced by youth instead of just talking and not doing anything. “This is the time to turn on affirmative action,” He said.
According to him “Beyond Rhetoric is offering solutions beyond the talk shows, the problems cannot be challenged based on mere rhetoric, solutions lie in the affirmative action. We need to act and stop talking or complaining.”
The emperor explained that the book which also speaks about Youth Empowerment and Political Voice in Nigeria is part of his contribution he and his Foundation are giving to the development of youths nationwide.
He referenced Nelson Mandela, who he said is his role model, saying that Mandela once said that “it is not how long you’ve lived on earth but how much impact you’ve made,” adding that this is what he lives on, dreams of, thinks of and works for.
“Some may call it politics, some may call it activism but I call it Ministry of help, giving back to the society, putting smiles on the faces of the people especially the youth.”
Strong among the points he brought forward is that youths should not be seen as liabilities but as assets, not until then can we forge ahead in this nation.
The Chairman of the occasion, Emmanuel Ijewere believed the youths need to grab power and should not expect affirmative action or that power would be handed over to them willingly.
He said that affirmative action is a deliberate action by the government or society to involve a section in power, no one would do that deliberately. The only way to get is to grab it. If you want to have a proper representation, don’t sit down, these people will never give up.
He called on young Nigerians to make themselves viable and capable for leadership positions, to understand the initiative of those beyond them, learn from their mistakes and change Nigeria.
On his part, the keynote speaker, a development expert and global justice activist, Dr Hussaini Abdu said that he believes there is a meeting point between affirmative action and direct action. He applauded the Not Too Young To Run Act which gives an opportunity for youths to be involved in politics but stressed that more needed to be done.
Abdu stressed the need to develop a strong youth policy that is connected to national youth development plan, and also to build a strong generational identity and strengthen youth’s policies.
Abdu called on the private sector and civil society organizations to have a role to play in advancing the course of the youths but noted that the government must play its part so that interventions from other parties can be recognized.
Prof Patricia Duli from the University of Maiduguri took the audience through the review of the entire chapters and sections of the book, after which the book was launched.
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