The 2017 National Youth Summit on Crime Prevention, which took place on the 25th of May 2017, was hosted by African Youth Summit on Crime Prevention in Partnership with the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs, Lagos. It ended in a high note, with a call for the government and the private sector to be prevention-conscious if Nigeria and the rest of Africa must win the fight against crime.
The Summit, under the theme “value-based leadership; a panacea for the fight against crime in Nigeria,” saw speakers upon speakers re-emphasize the importance of a prevention approach in crime fighting, as compared to the reactionary approach being used by Nigeria and most African countries, because it is cheap and safe.
The Summit, which was chaired by Barrister Eze Eluchie, Executive Director of PADDI Foundations, recorded 470 participants across the country. Both speakers and youth participants agreed that meaningful youth engagement through job creation and empowerment remains the most viable prevention tool that can stop young people from going into criminal activities, because an “idle mind remains the devil workshop.”
The high rate of youth involvement in cyber-crime, kidnapping, drug abuse, illegal trafficking and armed robbery was at the front burner. Other topics, which reflected upon the role of the judiciary, legislature, agriculture and science and technology, were also discussed.
Dignitaries who attended the summit include: Barr. Ambassador Phillips Obuesi, Executive Director, Community Agenda for Peace and United Nations Ambassador on SDGs, AIG Mohammed Ibrahim, ably represented by ACP Adeyimi Olopade, Engr. Ganiu Owolabi, Secretary General, United Nations Association of Nigeria, Chief Mike Ozekhome, SAN, ably represented by Barrister John Ozekhome, Ambassador Felix Iziomoh, Executive Director, International Centre for Leadership Development, Nigeria.
As the curtain for the 2017 National Youth Summit on Crime Prevention falls, all suggestions and recommendations will be forwarded to the government and other relevant authorities while plans for the 2018 Summit will start immediately.
