The first Global Youth Meeting on a Sustainable Future, Bari-Italy, 19th-21st January 2010

The Italian Government, the Apulia Regional Government and the National Agency for Youth in Italy of the European Youth in Action Program organised the first NMC World Youth Meeting for a Sustainable Future in collaboration with Inter-American Development Bank, ILO, UNESCO and UN-HABITAT among others. On 19, 20 and 21 January 2010, over a thousand young people met in Bari, Italy, to discuss the challenges of sustainable environmental, social and economic development at both local and global level with thought leaders from a range of cultural backgrounds and experience. 

The TUCCAN leader is one of the 5 delegates from Nigeria to participate in this first World Young Leaders Meeting in Bari. The three days meeting was a urge success, participants had the opportunity to deliberate on various issues at the centre stage of global development such as climate change, women development, girl child empowerment, child labour, poverty in Africa etc. The TUCCAN leader led various group discussions on women empowerment and child labour.

She is also one of the 5 young leader representatives that summed up the three days meeting and made the Bari declaration on the last day of the meeting. The meeting was covered by both the National and International media.

The African delegates from Nigeria, Kenya, Tanzania, Cote d’ivoire, South Africa, and Cameroon had the opportunity to discuss various challenges facing the African Continent and what the youth leaders could do to address the problems especially as it relate to poverty and Africa development.

Sub-Saharan Africa World Bank /British Council TOT Capacity Building on Climate Change

Climate change is one of the major challenges facing the world. Many countries have already been impacted by climate change and this has affected their development as a result of adverse impacts on sectors such as agriculture, water, human health and tourism. There are also opportunities from climate change, for example new financing instruments such carbon finance, to help move towards low carbon development and reduce local air pollution at the same time. It is clear that a concerted effort in addressing development under a changing climate is needed and has been recognized by many multi-lateral and bilateral development agencies, countries, NGOs and community organizations. However, a major challenge on moving forward is the access to the knowledge and the capacity to move from knowledge to action on climate change.

World Bank Institute (WBI) in 2009 initiated a pilot program to engage about 300 youths as climate champions in 16 countries. The WBI climate capacity building was to provide a platform that provides access to resources included, e-learning program on climate change, e-discussion to encourage peer-to-peer learning, develop and maintain youth networks, conduct knowledge shearing events, and also a platform to share further experiences and knowledge.

From 16th – 21st November 2009; TUCCAN Lead Coordinator joined other 30 youth climate champions from 7 different African countries within the sub-Saharan region in a 5 days Training of Trainers Climate Change capacity building programme at the new Chelsea hotel in Abuja, Nigeria; The participating organizations were empowered to be agents of change by implementing youth focused climate change capacity development activities within their countries and communities.

LEADPOC Gathered Youth Leaders in Kano on Anti-Corruption Movement in Nigeria- The Role of Youth

As a Nation, Corruption remains the biggest impediment to our quest for sustained growth, development, peace, stability & security. Tackling corruption which is an obstacle to national growth & development is a pre-occupation of every Nigeria patriot.
Corruption must be fought from childhood to adulthood and it's the responsibility of everyone. Every Nigerian need to imbibe zero tolerance to corruption early enough to secure the future of our dear country
It is the responsibilities of all the citizens to wage war against corruption. It has to start from us all. Everyone has a responsibility towards his country. Every individual should resist the temptation of being corrupt or carrying out corrupt practices. Let everyone have zero tolerance for corruption. “Mallam Nuhu Ribadu"
The July 2009 module focused on Anti-Corruption Movement in Nigeria –The Role of Youth. This month module seeks to endue in the Nigerian Youth the ideals of honesty, diligence, transparency, accountability and selfless service.

Kano State Government on Environmental Sustainability Project

The ecosystem and eco-environment of Nigeria desperately needs environmental facelift. Water, soil and air of the ecological landmass lack maintenance and requisite attention. Rubbish and debris are carelessly littered on the roadside and in the gutters. Some parts of Nigeria's landscape are being reclaimed by desert, erosion and gullies. Air in the major commercial centers is loaded with impurities. No adequate interest has been given to these disasters and the disfiguration of the environmental integrity of our great country Nigeria.

As a readjustment to reality of the situation, Kano State has embarked on an environmental project of finding a permanent solution to the management of solid waste by setting up an integrated waste disposal facility. This is an impressive development and a gallant effort to have a healthier state. The government of Kano state must be encouraged by the federal government in the effort to strategically collect, recycle and disposed her debris and waste materials in a safe and healthy procedural methodology. This paradigm initiated by Kano government is worth emulating. For this development the Afripol Organization honored the executive governor of Kano state: His Excellency Mallam Dr. Ibrahim Shekarau with the achievement award titled THE ENVIRONMENTAL GOVERNOR OF NIGERIA. http://www.afripol.org/Governors.htm

This integrated disposal of waste connotes a solid waste service and prudent management which will be instituted for the collection, disposal and recycling of discarded materials in a manner that will be safe, efficient, environmentally sound and cost-effective. Landfills which are the final destination for the housing of waste materials will also be the center for collection and separation of materials for recycling. Recycling is not only cost effective but necessary, to ensure a greener environment and non-hazardous ecosystem, while simultaneously making available of much needed raw materials for further production and creation of wealth.

The next step for government of Kano state is to wage a mass education and public relationship campaign in order to inform her citizens of the importance of maintaining a clean ambiance in the state. The public must be given the informative tool to enable them comprehend the role they can play in the cost effective methodology of waste collection and disposal. When the public understands the importance of efficient waste disposal, they will partake in the process and become a committed partner in the keeping of the state clean.

For the enhancement of the standard operation procedure:"Trash containers are to be emptied at a minimum of once a week. All collected trash and debris will to be hauled to an approved landfill by licensed solid waste disposal vehicles. Vehicles used to haul the debris shall have a sealed bottom to prevent leaks or seepage, and the trash materials shall be covered while the load is in transit. All personnel will be instructed the correct procedure for trash disposal."

External monitors and strategists in the form of experts, consultants and managers are needed to work with government. The working together of the government and private entities will encourage transparency and accountability. The intervention of private industry in government bureaucracy introduces the dynamics of market place and curtails runaway cost of a project. It will also booster democratic capitalism and efficient application and utilization of scare resources.

With this venture, Kano state will become an example to the rest of Nigerian states and National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA). The advantages of a clean environment cannot be overemphasis including the drastic curtailed on misquotes and malaria, clean underground water, clean air and overall enhancement and enrichment of optimum health and well being for the citizens. One thing for sure: Sound health is great wealth.

TUCCAN Foundation is supporting the advocacy to promote and encourage free enterprise, democracy, sustainable green environment, human rights, conflict resolutions, transparency and probity in Africa.

Building Partnerships for Development in Water & Sanitation "Programme for Partnership Practioners in West Africa"

The Developing Partnerships in Practice: Programme for Partnership Practitioners in West Africa is a programme of Building Partnership for Development in Water and Sanitation.

BPD is a non-profit membership organization run by a multi-stakeholder Board of Directors, Building Partnerships for Development in Water and Sanitation (BPD) works with strategic partnerships involving government, business, civil society and donors to improve access to safe water and effective sanitation in poor communities. Taking the lessons learned from these strategic partnerships, BPD promotes dialogue around institutional approaches for serving the poor, a more realistic understanding of multi-sector relationships, and the development of broad-based support for appropriate environments that enable partnerships to thrive. Through the development of a set of analytical and facilitation tools, BPD aims is to influence the way organizations work together in partnership.

The objectives of the training programme is to build awareness of available knowledge and resources about partnerships in water and sanitation; build and develop practical partnering skills; and support the application of skills and knowledge to current partnering challenges.

Participants are drawn from various water and sanitation sectors across the Africa countries (Ghana, Nigeria, Malawi, Cameroon, Liberia and Burkina). The 5 days training course from 15th – 19th June 2009 at the Erata Hotel in Accra gave opportunities for networking and experience sharing among the participants; and visitors from Water AID Ghana, UNICEF, Denmark Government Representative, Directorate of Utility in Ghana and the NGOs Coalition on Water and Sanitation.

The topics covered includes Developing an Enabling Environment for Partnership, Active Listening, Mapping Incentives, Plotting Incentives, Assessing Partnership Effectiveness, Partnership Accountability, Partnerships & Culture, Sanitation Partnerships, Community Engagement in Water & Sanitation Partnerships, Partnership Governance, Interest-Based Negotiation/Conflict Resolution, Exit & Transition Strategies and Facilitation Skills.

Making an Impact as a Global Changemaker

A Changemaker is a young activist operating through a range of national and international networks, who is able to influence his or her community as well as speak to authority with confidence and passion. Changemakers are not afraid to challenge either accepted ways of thinking or their convictions. Changemakers are forward looking; they take their ideas and put them into practice. A Changemaker accepts difference, is flexible, is able to take on new ideas and skills and will communicate them to others.

Becoming a Changemaker takes longer than one or two weeks: participants have to be prepared to commit to the programme for longer - but in return, the British Council commits to the Changemakers. The engagement may take a number of forms: for instance, taking part in regional or global think tanks, participating in awareness-raising campaigns and developing and running community projects on their return home. These projects will be supported by the Global Changemakers team, by country offices and by partner organisations.

Akeju Olukemi Abimbola as Global Changemaker participated in the just concluded African Youth Summit in Cape Milner Hotel, Cape Town South Africa from 2nd – 7th June 2009. The summit was powered by the British Council, Switzerland. The summit attracted about 70 young social activists representing different continents all other the world but with the highest delegation from the Africa Continent.
Olukemi had the opportunity to represent all the delegates on South African National Radio Station and the South African Broadcasting Corporation {SABC} to speak on the British Council Global Changemakers Initiative, Youth Participation, and Leadership Challenges in Africa.

The leadership challenges in Nigerian democracy: Equipping the youth

The Leadership Development for Positive Citizenship (LEADPOC) is an initiative of TUCCAN Foundation aimed at youth leaders from various institutions of higher learning and Youth Serving Organization (YSOs) to build the leadership capacity of young people who are catalysts for positive social change. The programme believes that helping young people realize their potential as development actors will create an enabling environment for youth to actively participate in the planning & implementation of development activities in their various communities thereby guarantying sustainability.

Those who can bring about freedom where it is absent and justice where it is denied are chiefly young people. Freedom and justice is a patient and often-difficult struggle that requires the strength, sacrifice, rigor and fortitude of young people to be attained. Often times the youth force retreat to dormancy and apathy for lack of perspective and coordination. In this frustration the youth force is hijacked and brought into conflict by belligerent, insurgent and other terrorist war lords either to resist possible democratic transition or to meet their deadly goals.

Youths are valuable tools to safeguard against violation of basic human rights and government excesses if youths could take up their responsibilities and play their role as political actors during and after the transition process of their infant democracies. Too long young people are judged as not being fit to participate in societal development because of dormancy and political apathy.

The May 2009 Module of LEADPOC will be focused on “Equipping the Youth Force to Combat Leadership Challenges in Nigeria