Date: 2020-11-04

The Kwara State Government, through the Ministry of Sports and Youth Development, today gathered youths, civil society organisations, non-govermental organisations and students across the state to dialogue on what should be put in place to forestall future occurrences of youths' restiveness.

The session, embroidered with the theme "Re-Enacting Youth-Based Social Contract", was a veritable interactive response to the violence, turmoil and calamities that accompanied the "#EndSARS" protest.

Addressing the gathering, the Commissioner for Sports and Youth Development, Mrs. Joana Nnazua Kolo, affirmed that the interactive session was necessary and timely at tackling the storm suffocating the nation, claiming that this initiative will discourage subsequent emergence of violent protests and militancy on the part of the youth in the country.

"The event (#EndSARS protest) made my Ministry to come up with this lofty idea of roundtable dialogue for the State Executive Committee (SEC) of Youth Organizations, Civil Society Organizations, NGOs and Stakeholders in the State to have a robust discussion and way forward to end future occurrences that was code-named #EndSARS protest", she said.

She described the incident that followed the agitation as unfortunate and appalling, saying it was on this note that stakeholders were invited to do justice to the issue so that a communique springing from the dialogue will be forwarded to the Executive Governor of the State, Mallam AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, which will later be factored into policy-making.

Also speaking at the event, the Commissioner for Communications and Culture, Mrs. Adenike Harriet Afolabi-Oshatimehin, charged youths to always cultivate the habit of listening to the government, communicating to the government via dialogue, and be ready to take up their responsibilities.

She explained that it will not augur well to route grievances to the government through belligerent platforms, stating that this will not drive in development for the nation.

Oshatimehin further enumerated the various programmes and policies initiated by the AbdulRazaq-administration towards the development and participation of youths in government, also assuring youths of more numerous beneficial and progressive programmes from the government.

The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Sports and Youth Development, Barrister Iyabo Funke Banire, said that it was a stroke of genus for Governor AbdulRazaq to have responded to the burning development with an instant remedy, stating that this shows AbdulRazaq-led government is responsible and responsive to social demands.

She said that the programme was designed to enlighten the youth on the efficacy and usefulness of embarking on dialogue with the authority when occasion demands, enjoining youths to always think of contributing their quotas to the development and progress of the state.

Banire also called on the youth to always channel their grievances and requests through the Ministry, sensitising them that the Ministry is dedicated to matters concerning the development of youths in the state.

The occasion featured lectures by public analysts and allowed participants to ask questions on issues around the theme of discussion.

Also in attendance were the Commissioner for Finance, and Planning and Statics, Florence Olasunbo Oyeyemi Commissioner for Works, Hon. Rotimi Iliasu, SA on New Media, Mr. Fafoluyi Olayinka Solace, the Police Public Relations Officer, Kwara State Police Command, SP Ajayi Okasanmi, Director, Youth Development, Alhaja Aishat Mohammed, Director, Sports Development, Alhaji Abubakar Olusola Sheu and others.

Dr. Sangodare Ayinla,

Ministry of Sports and Youth Development

3/11/2020