Mme the Public Independent Conciliator addressing the Youths
On Thursday 20 April 2023, the Office of the Public Independent Conciliator had a meeting with leaders of Youth Associations of the South-West Region. The meeting which is the second of its kind assembled 60 youths drawn from the Divisional and Regional executives of the National Youth Council, the South-West Youth League, Peace Beyond Violence Movement and others. The purpose of the meeting was to assess the work done so far by youth associations in sensitizing the population as well as improve on the platform by identifying avenues of collaboration to ensure continuity in the sensitization drive of the institution.
The Public Independent Conciliator with Regional and Divisional Executives of the National Youth Council, the South-West Youth League and the Peace Beyond Violence Movement
Addressing the youths, the Public Independent Conciliator, Mme Telelen Dorothy Atabong spouse Motaze underscored the importance of engaging youths as partners “As you all know, it is no secret that a successful future cannot be guaranteed for our country without the inclusive contributions and active participation of youths. They form a dynamic machinery in the achievement of any goal that is aimed at the general good. Therefore, it is a matter of primary importance that the Office of the Public Independent Conciliator (OPIC) for the South West Region as a conciliation and mediation instrument, continues to engage youths as partners in this goal towards social cohesion.”
She went further to mention that because youths are active in various economic and leadership activities, OPIC views them as promising partners to achieve its objective of reaching the citizens at the grassroots. OPIC’s boss also urged them to join the institution combat discrimination and unfair treatment of citizens within local collectivities. “It is our collective responsibility to combat the scourges of discrimination or unfair treatment of the public within our local collectivities for the overall benefit of all service users in the South-West Region”. She pointed out.
Youths listening attentively to the Public Independent while responding to questions
While refreshing the minds of the youths on the missions and complaint procedure at OPIC, Fonju Bernard, the resource person exhorted the youths to demonstrate exemplary behaviour even when they seek services from councils especially as the majority of those holding positions of Service or Bureau Heads are their peers. They were also advised to educate their peers, acquaintances and family members. During the question-and-answer session the PIC, made clarifications which shed more light on the missions, functioning of the office, including the role youths are expected to play.
As the curtains were being drawn down on these deliberation,, both Presidents of the National Youth Council, Abwa Tarkang and South-West Youth League, Esua Kisito respectively took commitments to engage in a vibrant sensitization of youths using the social media and other fora.
