|
Listen to article
|
Gautier Mignot, who was recently designated as the European Union Ambassador to Nigeria, stated on Thursday that the EU is profoundly invested in ensuring Nigeria’s political stability and its future trajectory. He highlighted the importance of the country’s progress within the context of broader regional stability.
According to an official release from Abuja, Mignot disclosed this information while addressing the launch of the second cohort of the Youth Sounding Board Nigeria. This group, composed of 25 young Nigerians selected from all parts of the nation, marks an important milestone in fostering youth involvement in shaping the country’s future.
The Youth Sounding Board Nigeria (YSB) serves as a key initiative through which the European Union enables young people to actively participate in shaping the policies and programs of the EU Delegation in Nigeria. This platform gives youth the opportunity to voice their perspectives and influence critical decisions that affect their future.
During his speech, Mignot outlined that the European Union viewed the program as a means to promote active participation from young people in national affairs. By fostering a direct channel for dialogue between the youth and decision-makers, the EU aims to cultivate a more inclusive policy environment.
He continued by noting that the Youth Sounding Board has been a vital resource for the EU delegation, providing expert advice on promoting youth participation in several domains.
These include key areas such as employment, education, environmental sustainability, climate change, human rights advocacy, democratic governance, peace and security, technological progress, gender equity, and social inclusiveness.
“Sometimes, the EU is asked what its interest, purpose, and objective are in cooperating with Nigeria.
“Our main interest is to help this country build a stable, united, prosperous, and sustainable future. This is also in our interest.
“Young people are the future. Now, there is a stronger inter-generational gap. This is because society has changed, technology has changed, and there are, perhaps, more differences between how young people are living their formative years compared to older generations,” he said.
Mignot further noted that the YSB was created to influence the EU delegation’s interventions and its impact on local communities across Nigeria.
“Only young people know what other young people expect, need, and yearn for. That is why the voice of young people is so important,” he added.
Speaking about the expectations for the new cohort of the YSB, he said, “Today, we welcome another group of 25 remarkable young Nigerians who remind us of the vast potential inherent within this country.
Read also: Moldovans Vote To Elect President, Referendum To Join The EU
“The selection process started in May 2024. We received over 3,000 applications from young people across Nigeria. It was a very selective process, and we conducted three rounds of selection to identify the 25 individuals who now form this second cohort.
“Each of these 25 young people has a strong passion for youth inclusion and I am very hopeful that throughout their tenure as members of the Youth Sounding Board, they will build on the results achieved by the first cohort and make their mark in ensuring that the European Union’s interventions are increasingly youth-inclusive.”
A youth development and engagement expert and a member of the pioneer cohort of the YSB Nigeria, Iswat Badmus, said, “Being a YSB member has been eye-opening for me because, through my work as a Youth and Policy Advisor with the EU Delegation to Nigeria and ECOWAS, I was able to understand the workings of the EU in Nigeria and also understand the struggles of young people in Nigeria when it comes to getting their voices heard and participating in decision-making processes.
“So far, my key contribution as a YSB member is amplifying the voices of young people—that is, acting as an intermediary between young people and the EU.
“I let the EU know what young people clamour for and how they can fully protect their interests when it comes to projects, policies, and programmes.
“To the incoming YSB members, I say congratulations to you. One key piece of advice I will give is to come in with huge energy, fresh perspectives, and innovations, and work as a team. Your team spirit is what will help you move forward and faster.”
