Young UK diasporans hold the first ever Canuk Nigerian youth summit in London

DOZENS of Nigerian youths in the UK gathered for the first ever diaspora youth summit organised to find way of engaging young people who hitherto had very little to do with the country or the British community.

 

Organised by the Central Association of Nigerians in the UK (Canuk), the event attracted several high profile speakers including artist May7ven, motivational speaker and millionaire businessman Prem Goyal and Prince Taju Adeniyi, the minister in charge of consular and welfare services at the high commission. Tagged the Inaugural Canuk Youth Panel, its theme was Youth Empowerment and the Reduction of Crime and Radicalisation.

 

In the event that took place at Edmonton in north London, young Nigerians, many of whom have never visited the country before, were allowed to ask questions about how to get engaged. Several high ranking Nigerians in the UK like the former mayors of Enfield and Lambeth Kate Anolue and Adedamola Aminu also interacted with them, offering their advice.

 

Ronke Udofia, the chair of the organising committee, said: "What we are trying to do here is engage our youth and get them involved in the activities of the Nigerian diaspora. Now that we have the project up and running, for future events, we will sit back and let the youth organise things themselves, with the elders just offering advice."

 

Tijani Zayad, one of the speakers, said: "I am 20 and have faced a lot of challenges but have found out that every disappointment is a blessing in disguise. However, I have started working with charities such as Youth Against Crime Not Crime Against You (Yacncay) is making a difference with our young people and I have started working with them to make a difference."

 

May7ven added: "When I was 16, my family kind of gave up on me because I was not sure what I wanted to do but I got arrested for spraying graffiti and from then onwards things changed for me. They feared I would end up in jail, getting pregnant or become homeless but I decided to walk into an estate agent and ask for a job and have not looked back since.

 

"After being offered the job, the company sponsored me to college and then university and after graduating, my music career took off. I have since established my own company as my entrepreneurial spirit took over once I decided in what direction I wanted to go."

 

Organising committee member Yemi Soile, pointed out that in 2005, 108 teenagers were shot in the UK and this year, the death toll is about 10. He added that though events like this, Canuk hopes to make a difference by getting the youth involved in worthwhile projects.

 

Onyi Anyado, another of the speakers charged the youth to be creative and eschew the lure of quick money, pointing out that it was Mark Zuckerberg's creativity that enabled him to found Facebook. He also urged parents not to discourage their children from pursuing their dreams as they have different talents and visions which they should be allowed to develop.

 

Pointing out that he went to prison himself, Mr Anyado said that it was not until 2008 that he found his own career path and has stuck to it since then. He advised the youth to examine areas in which they have a passion and spend time exploring such talents after doing the usual things like eating and homework.

 

Mr Goyel added that he started from scratch with little but focused on getting a masters degree and an MBA while in the US and while working, saved $1m to enable him found his own business. he pointed out that he remained focused on his goal, shunning distractions and urged the Nigerian youth to do likewise.

 

Prince Adeniyi urged the youth to be open to working for the foreign and diplomatic service among other things, adding that they could apply to work there  online. He added that there are plenty of opportunities in Nigeria with the growing economy and young people should urge their parents to encourage them to visit to cash in on them.

 

Canuk chairman Babatunde Loye, said that it is hoped that the forum will become an annual event and urged those who attended to bring along their friends in future. He added that the programme is part of Canuk's agenda to reach out to the youth as in the past, young people have not been involved in its activities.

 

Former mayor of Enfield Kate Anolue, urged the youth to try and communicate with their parents as part of this engagement process as they could have valuable advice to pass on. She added that it helps when parents and their children are friends as it allows for the exchange of information and ideas.