INTERNATIONAL YOUTH DAY 2016

Today August 12 is the International Youth Day. It is a day set aside by the United Nations to celebrate youths all over the world.

The theme of the 2016 International Youth Day is “The Road to 2030: Eradicating Poverty and Achieving Sustainable Consumption and Production”. It focuses on the leading role of young people in ensuring sustainable development, poverty eradication and achieving sustainable development through sustainable consumption and production.

Sustainable consumption entails the use of products and services that meet the basic needs of communities while safeguarding the needs of future generations. The development and promotion of individual choices and actions that increase the eco-efficiency of consumption of all and minimize waste and pollution is critical to achieving equitable socioeconomic development.

While youths around the world are commerating this day by organising seminars and talks on the role of the youths in Nation building, some other questions that need to answered are;

* Are youths especially in developing countries today ready to take on the task of ensuring sustainable development?

* Are the youths in today's world empowered with skills so as to provide for themselves, family and still be able to contribute meaningfully to society.