Nasarawa Stakeholders Unite Against Youth Crime: Parental Influence and Empowerment Key to Solution

In a collaborative effort to combat youth involvement in crime and criminality, stakeholders in Nasarawa State converged for an interactive session organized by Friends of Police and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC). The gathering brought together representatives from various sectors, including education, business, healthcare, and community associations, to devise effective strategies for addressing the issue.

Experts emphasized the crucial role of parental influence in shaping children’s behavior. Associate Professor Hauwa’u Mainoma urged parents to take an active role in disciplining their children, while Dr. Vincent Paul from Nasarawa State University’s Department of Entrepreneurship highlighted the importance of establishing skills acquisition and entrepreneurship centers across the country’s 774 Local Government Areas.

Key Strategies:

Empowerment through Education: Dr. Vincent Paul emphasized that skills acquisition and entrepreneurship centers can empower youth and reduce crime by fostering self-reliance.
Parental Responsibility: Associate Professor Hauwa’u Mainoma stressed the need for parents to discipline their children effectively.
Enhanced Surveillance: The NSCDC has increased surveillance and intelligence-gathering in schools under the Safe Schools Initiative to ensure student safety.
Community Engagement: Stakeholders committed to strengthening engagement with young people in their communities to reduce crime.

Chairman of Friends of Police Nigeria, Ibrahim Babayo, noted that the organization and its partners have developed strategies to address youth delinquency in Nasarawa State. The workshop concluded with a united commitment to implementing these strategies and promoting a safer, more empowered community for the state’s youth.