Speakers at an interactive session on Youth Involvement in crime and criminality and other forms of restiveness agreed that poor parental influence plays a crucial role in shaping children’s behavior in society.
The interactive session was organized by Friends of Police in collaboration with the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) Nasarawa State Command.
Krestnews sources reports that the event took place at Kutin Hotel, Dadin Kowa Keffi, last Saturday, October 19
According to the report, the event attracted key stakeholders from numerous sectors, including the Ministry of Education, local businesses, banking institutions, healthcare professionals, and community associations, was to devise effective strategies for combating youth crime and criminality, and other forms of youth restiveness in Nasarawa State.
Dr. Vincent Paul from the Department of Entrepreneurship at Nasarawa State University Keffi presented a paper spoke on the need to effectively engaged this segment of the society in productive ventures, highlighting the importance of establishing skills acquisition and entrepreneurship centers throughout the 774 Local Government Areas across the country as the way going forward.
Dr. Vincent Paul emphasized that the initiatives could empower youth and reduce crime by fostering self-reliance.
A Patron of Friends of Police, Associate Professor Hauwa’u Mainoma, urged parents to take an active role in disciplining their children, noting that it is essential to curbing youth crime and called for concerted efforts from security agencies and community stakeholders to address criminal behaviors effectively.
The Deputy Commandant of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Mrs. Sarah Irukera, identified lack of education as a significant driver of youth criminal activities, saying the NSCDC has enhanced surveillance and intelligence-gathering in schools under the Safe Schools Initiative to ensure student safety.
Speaking earlier, the Chairman, Friends of Police, Nigeria and convener of the Safe Schools Security Initiative, Ibrahim Babayo, noted that the organization and its partners have developed strategies to address youth delinquency in Nasarawa State.
The stakeholders concluded the interactive session with a commitment to strengthening engagement with young people in their communities to reduce the level of crime and criminality.