By Eric Elezuo

Silec Initiatives, a not-for-profit organisation, has partnered leading United States based development organisation, Dawkins Development Group, owners of the Flip These Bricks Academy, to unveil a youth oriented programme, Beyond the Streets Project, targeted at empowering Nigerian youths towards becoming self-reliant, independent and financially empowered to contribute to the economic development of Nigeria.

The partnership was forged at a well orgainsed campaign held at the American Corner, Lekki, Lagos, with the theme, Save Our Youth, Save the Economy with veritable stakeholders including the Chairman, Ovation Media Group, Chief Dele Momodu, represented by the Group Editor, Mr Eric Elezuo; Government and people of Bayelsa State, represented by the Special Adviser to Governor Douye Diri, on Trade and Investment, Mrs. Owanari Rowland Harry; Director, American Corner, Mrs Eyo Ekpo Mfonobong; Chairman, Dawkins Development Group, Mr. Salem Daniel Dawkins; President Emeritus, WorldChicago, Mrs. Peggy Parfenoff and President, Methodist Boys High School OBA, Engr. Akinsanya Mobolaji Browne, in attendance.

Among events at the meet, was the presentation of Global Merit Award on Social Media Impact and Talent Promotion to the Special Guest of Honour, Chief Dele Momodu, who has remained an icon of lifting the young ones towards attaining their full potential.

In his speech, which accommodated the vision and mission of the campaign, the Chief host, who is also the Founder/Chief Executive Officer, Silec Initiatives, with 14 years experience in drug advocacy, Ambassador Sunny Irakpo, traced the origin and importance of the campaign, citing the need to refocus and redirect the energy of the young people to meaningful socio-economic activities. This, he said, would be achieved by attracting local and foreign investment opportunities that will result in job creation, thereby reducing crime and criminality prevalent among the youths, and highlighting drug use prevention strategy as a cardinal model in addressing drug in-take and drug related crimes.

“The program is also tailored towards refocusing and redirecting the energy of young people into meaningful socio-economic activities by attracting foreign and local investment opportunities that will result in job creation for our teeming youth population,” Irakpo said.

He frowned at the magnitude of drug use among young people, which according to the Psychiatrists Association of Nigeria report, places 85% of unhinged individuals between ages of 18 and 38 years as major culprits, calling for concerted efforts from all and sundry, especially stakeholders, to stem the tide as well as giving kudos to the leadership of National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) for job well done so far.

“The current drug abuse situation amongst youth across the globe, particularly in Nigeria, necessitated this gathering to help amplify our voices in our collective responsibility in rescuing our society from moral decadence, and discuss drug use prevention/demand reduction strategy in tackling Drugs and the Opioid Crisis.

“I strongly commend the administration of the NDLEA Chairman Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa (Rtd) OON , OFR for the war against drug abuse and illicit trafficking in Nigeria, but there is still more work to be done.

“According to the psychiatrists Association of Nigeria report, that 85% of unhinged individuals are youth between age 18-38years . According to the UNODC survey, as at 2018, the worse users of drugs are between agae 18-39 years. The resultant effect is an increase in mental health cases, psychosis, and criminality in the society,” Irakpo noted, stressing that the age bracket mentioned above is the livewire of any nation, and if not salvaged immediately will lead to catastrophic chain reaction.

“The economy of nations will continue to suffer, including ours, if the young individuals are not given platforms and the opportunity to constantly contribute their quota to Gross Domestic Products (GDP).”

He therefore, made an open call to well meaning Nigerians and international bodies to join hands as the scourge of drug abuse including colorado, poly drugs, combine, loud, methamphetamine, pharmaceutical products and Marijuana, is fought to a standstill, and eradicated in the society.

“On this value based path, I openly extend my appeal for support and sponsorship to well meaning individuals, the media, philanthropists, donor agencies and corporate organizations to come to the aid of the youth, for as it stands, we are overwhelmed as a people. I invite you all present to join hands with Silec Initiatives in the fight against drug abuse and give our youth a new direction…

“…It is against this background that Silec Initiatives, a pragmatic Non profit making organization is canvassing for the Real Value Dimension (RVD) as we launch the “Beyond The Streets Project” (BTS) project,” he informed.

Earlier in her welcome address, the American Corner Director, Mfonobong, had applauded the campaign and humanitarian services of Mr. Irakpo and Silec, saying they resonate with the vision of Corner, and thereby merits its attention.

“The campaign and humanitarian services of Silec Initiatives aligns perfectly with our vision, and we are proud to support value-based programmes that aim to equip young people with the knowledge and resources to drive positive change in our economy,” Mfonobong said.

Also lending her voice to the campaign, Mrs Owanari Rowland Harry, called on individuals and corporate organizations to get involved in the rescue mission towards ridding the streets of Nigeria of dissidents and indigents, who sometimes, for no fault of theirs, have gone neck-deep into drug usage while pledging continuous support of the government of Bayelsa State in the fight against drug use and abuse.

“Our administration under the Seven Pillars A.S S.U.R. E D Prosperity Agenda to Bayelsa have given priority to youth development and empowerment and addresses critical social and infrastructural gap so to help engage our youth in meaningful socio-economic activities, geared towards reducing social vices such as drug abuse in Bayelsa State and Nigeria ingeneral,” she said

The event was spiced up with a panel comprising Mrs Rowland Harry, Engr. Akinsanya Mobolaji Browne and Hon Justice O. A. Shogbola, and anchored by On Air Personality, Cordelia Okpei, where issues surrounding health and drug free society were raised and brought to the fore.

The high point of the event was the unveiling of the Beyond the Streets Project by Amb Irakpo and Mr Dawkins, who joined live from United States via zoom.

“The Project will target eligible Nigerians, who are due for empowerment, and will be given vocational training in the US under the tutelage of the Flip These Bricks Academy, owned by Mr Dawkins.

An empowerment expert, and youth advocate, Sunny Irakpo, has for over 14 years seen to development of the youths towards helping attain their full potential and not become a menace to the society.