Sustainable Community Development Initiative, The Youth Option, Engr John Akpoyibo Identifies Quality Education As Solution
Francis Tayor
Warri--------- The General Secretary National Youth Council of Nigeria NYCN, Burutu Local Government Area of Delta State, Engr. John Akpoyibo has identified provision of quality education of our youths as a panacea for sustainable community development in our society, stressing that well meaning individuals should come into the system to complement government effort by providing education materials to schools in the rural communities.
The youth leader challenged all and sundry to measure their achievements in terms of contribution to advancement of education in our communities, saying the progress of the youth in our communities should be perceived as a manifestation of the over all development of our communities.
In breaking down the analysis, Engr Akpoyibo said ;" Human existence has always been in community from inception, as the collective and individual social needs are better met in a community; even in the cosmopolitan and mega cities of the world than in isolation. However, advancements in science and technology over the years have led to a gradual shift in the concept and practice of community life to an emerging pattern particularly in urban centers as well as cosmopolitan and mega cities.
This emerging concept is known as neighborhood life. The concept is of necessity as societies evolve over the centuries and become more complex in meeting the social needs that binds people together particularly in semi urban and mega cities. This is because of the human and social growth patterns, which if ignored would have ripple effect on millions of generation to come."
COMMUNITY
This is a people living in one place, district or country, considered as a whole. It is also defined as a group of people of the same religion, race, occupation, etc, with shared interest. It also means condition of sharing, having things in common, being alike in some way.
DEVELOPMENT
This simply means to grow gradually; become or make mature, become noticeable, visible or active. The next question is what is "sustainable community development "?
SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
Sustainable community development is that gradual growth of the entire community over time that takes into consideration the welfare and well being of the youth cum the impact of the present activities on generation yet unborn. It underscores the quality of life, standard and continued shared interest of all for the common good of the community.
YOUTH IMPACT IN COMMUNITY.
It is a common saying that the youth are the leaders of tomorrow, if the youth are truly the leaders of tomorrow, we need to critically address the twin issues of youth empowerment and creating a conducive environment to harness their full potentials for accelerated and sustainable community development. Youth empowerment is essentially equipping the youth with the basics (Formal and non-formal education, learning of different trades, vocational trainings, sport and social development, leadership and governance development programs) carefully designed for them to enable them see life in its true perspective and take on future challenges.
Providing a conducive environment to harness the full potentials of youth on the other hand is the provision of the basic educational, social, vocational training, sports, social, leadership and governance infrastructure to enable them excel in any given field of endeavor. Today leaders must provide the means for the youth to appropriately explore the road map to sustainable community development, which is selfless service to community.
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVES
Community development initiatives are basically the various aspect of self -help projects initiated by the indigene of any community aimed at improving the standard of life of the people in line with the dictates of modern civilization, development in science and technology. Over the years, little or no pragmatic effort was made by our people to develop our communities, development initiatives were left entirely in the hands of the local council and the state government except on cultural and traditional matters which were consciously and consistently developed , sustained and handed over to successive young generations.
The advent of formal education and Christianity via the missionaries in the late eighteen and early nineteenth century brought a new horizon which became the measure of power, strength and sometimes wealth in the community.
It should and must be believed that massive quality education of youth is the only solution to an articulated and accelerated development of our first choice communities, where the minds of our youth will be liberated to give way for an all embracing development option that will allow the pulling together of professionalism and expertise relating to development not void of cultural and traditional obligations.
I challenge all and sundry to measure their achievements in terms of contribution to advancement of education in our communities. We should attach premium importance and subsequently donate educational materials for both our primary and secondary schools. The progress of the youth in our communities should be perceived as a manifestation of the overall development of our communities.
Therefore our collective contribution to the noble course should not be mortgaged for lesser options,he asserted."
