ABUJA – (OSGF Report) – The Federal Government has tasked volunteers around the globe to work together in solidarity to complement Government’s efforts in fighting poverty, inequality, gender discrimination, crime and youth restiveness.
The Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha, CFR, made the call in his office at the Press Conference to mark the 2022 International Volunteer Day (IVD) with the theme: “Solidarity Through Volunteering.”
The report issued by the Director of Information in OSGF, Willie Bassey on the 5th of December 2022 indicated that the SGF, who was represented at the event by the Senior Special Adviser to the President on Policy and Coordination, Habiba Lawal (Dr) stressed the pivotal role of volunteerism in mitigating social vices in the society, thereby complementing the efforts of the Federal Government in stemming the tide.
“The socio-economic and political challenges characterized by poverty, inequality, gender discrimination, crime, youth restiveness, among others in the present era further affirms the need for volunteers to work together in finding and proffering common solutions. Fact remains that volunteerism stands as one of the potent strategies of complementing the efforts of Government in tackling emerging social vices. Volunteers drawn together by solidarity provide committed teams and groups that will dexterously develop solutions to urgent development challenges,” he emphasized.
“The Federal Government in furtherance of its commitment to strengthening volunteering in Nigeria established the Nigerian National Volunteer Service (NNVS) Office in 2003 to serve as a volunteer management Institution to promote, encourage, harness, coordinate and effectively deploy the Volunteer Services of Nigerians to complement national development strategies.”
He added that the Federal Government has also demonstrated its commitment through the National Policy on Volunteerism which was approved in 2020 to guide and provide direction for the effective management and coordination of volunteerism for development. The SGF further disclosed that the Nigerian National Volunteer Service (NNVS) has upgraded its website (www.nnvsnigeria.gov.ng) to enable online registration of volunteers as well as provide information on volunteer programmes, organizations & groups operating in the country.
According to him, the National Database of Volunteers has also been created and has been regularly updated to serve as efficient management tool for informed decision making on matters relating to volunteerism in Nigeria. He implied that the National Volunteer Database and the National volunteer Scheme would soon be officially launched by the Federal Government to amongst others provide the teeming youth population, retirees, workers and migrantswith temporary work/employment for a period of time on a voluntary, compensation, stipend and reward basis.
Speaking earlier, the Director of the Nigerian National Volunteer Service (NNVS) in the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Simon Briye said that the 2022 IVD event will offer the opportunity to celebrate the efforts of Government, individuals and group volunteers, involving the strides made so far on the development of volunteerism in Nigeria.
Simon Briye thanked the stakeholders and Thematic Group on Volunteerism, Development Partners, the United Nations Volunteers in Nigeria, Voluntary Service Overseas (VSO), FCT Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), NYSC, Fresh and Young Brains Development Initiative (FBIN), Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports, Nigerian Youth Volunteers (NYV), Office of the Senior Special Assistant to the President on SDGS, Augustinian International, Association of Uniform Voluntary Organizations (NAUVO), Searchlight Initiative Nigeria, Emmandes, YALI and others who contributed in varying scale for the successful hosting of the event in Nigeria.
The highlight of the event included goodwill messages from stakeholders and development partners, presentation of awards to key personalities and the cutting of cake to mark the International Volunteering Day (IVD).
The International Volunteering Day for Economic and Social Development is an international observance mandated by the UN General Assembly in 1985. It offers opportunities for volunteering, involving organizations and individual volunteers to promote volunteerism, encourage governments and support volunteer efforts and recognizes volunteer contributions to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) at local, national and international levels.
Signed
Willie Bassey
Director of Information in OSGF
