NIDO YOUTH FORUM

Reconnecting With & Rebuilding Nigeria Today, For Tomorrow

The Role of the Diaspora Youth in the Socio-economic Development of Nigeria

Objectives

1)       To officially Launch NIDO- YOUTH as a new organization under the NIDO umbrella

2)       To explore and make recommendations on ways by which Nigerian youths everywhere can contribute to a re-born and stable Nigeria, where our dreams for socio-economic growth and development can be better realized

3)       To stimulate discussion on strategies that place high emphasis on accountability, and demonstration of leadership within/amongst and by Nigerian youths globally

4)       To propose the establishment of a NIDO Youth Project that will take on a social development project in Nigeria, following the conclusion of the international NIDO conference. The project will focus on any one or more of the following examples of socio-economic challenges in Nigeria:

a)        Lack of adequate teaching and learning materials in Primary and Secondary Schools in Nigeria, especially in remote and non-accessible regions across the country

b)        Health Care Initiatives to address- Malaria, AIDS, Polio and other health related issues

c)        Get Professional and well informed Nigerian Youth to volunteer their skills in their respective fields over a given period of time.

We aim to mobilize Nigerian Youth (both in Diaspora and in Nigeria) to explore and articulate a shared vision
of the future of Nigeria, today. Interested youths are encouraged to participate at the conference by either
presenting papers or by being actively involved in forum discussions on any/all of the topics listed below.

Youth Conference Program

Friday, January 19, 2007

8:30 A.M-  Registration

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9:00A.M  Welcome Address & Official Opening Remarks NIDO Worldwide

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10:00A.M  Welcome, Overview, Guidelines for Dialogue, Introductions NIDO- Youth Planning Committee

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10:30A.M  Message from Hon Mrs. Grace Ogwuchie, Minister of Youth Development

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11:00A.M  Our Experiences- Living and Coping in the Western World as Nigerian Youths

Personal stories have the power to ignite dialogue by capturing and expressing shared and diverse interests, concerns and experiences. This will help “break the ice” as participating delegates will get the opportunity to know one another better.

                                Discussion- Facilitator- Diana Imonikhe

1.        What are the key components of the “Nigerian Youth in the Diaspora” debate? – education, employment e.t.c

2.        The Duality Trap; Fitting into the “new” environment, here or back home in Nigeria

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11:30 A.M [Panel Presentations/Discussion] Invited Speakers: Gbenga Sesan, Hafsat Abiola, Chimamanda Ngozi

                                                                                 Adichie, Abdulai Apotieri Damilola, Uzodinma C Iweala      

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11:30 A.M               Youth Development and Empowerment – Challenges and Opportunities

This session will briefly set the context for analyzing the general debate around youth development and empowerment in the Diaspora and also in Nigeria; thereby providing a shared understanding of the circumstances for Nigerian youths, around the world.                                                                                                      Discussion Questions:

1.        How do we define youth development and empowerment?

2.        What shifts in youth development and empowerment have occurred in Nigeria today? And how have they impacted
those in the Diaspora?

3.        Reconnecting With & Rebuilding Nigeria Today,
For Tomorrow youths in the Diaspora, what are our
individual and collective visions for ourselves and for our respective communities? –sustainability and stability?

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12:30 P.M                                                                               LUNCH

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1:30 P.M                 The Nigerian Brain-Drain- Reversing the Exodus

                         Discussion Question:

1.        How do we examine the push and pull factors that have facilitated the Nigerian-brain drain over the years?

2.        What are the impacts of education and employment as contributing factors?

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2:15 P.M   Leadership and Accountability Measures for Positive Change within our Communities

                         Discussion Question:

1.   What are some of the accountability measures that can be implemented by Nigerian youths to ensure that our roles as leaders in a new era for restructuring/rebuilding Nigeria are visible?

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3:00 PM                  Redefining the Image of Nigeria in a Global Context

Discussion Question:

1.       What are some of the measures that can be implemented by Nigerian youths to contribute to redefining the image of Nigeria globally?

2.       Addressing- Corruption, 419 and Zealotry e.t.c

3.       Movies, & Music- The Nigerian Invasion on the Global Scene

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3:00 PM                  The Fight against Social Pandemic   

 Discussion Question:

1.       What are the major social pandemics that have been recognized by Youths in Nigeria?

2.       A.I.D.S, Malaria, Destitution, Poverty, Illiteracy e.t.c

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3:45 PM                  Discoveries, Themes and Implications for Action

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4:15 PM                  END of Sessions

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5:00 PM                  Sights/Sounds of Toronto

                         Delegates will visit off-site sight seeing attractions around the city.

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Saturday, January 20, 2007

Saturday’s Program will be in conjunction with the main NIDO international Conference.

Conference Dinner at 6:30pm