Peter Obi To Speak As 2,000 Youths Gather Against Gender-Based Violence In Enugu

Peter Obi is one of the discussants penciled down for this year's annual youth conference organised by Boys Champions to curtail gender-based violence in Nigeria.

The conference which will hold on November 25, 2022, at the Baze event centre, Independence Layout, Enugu will feature over 2,000 youths drawn from different sectors and communities in Nigeria.

The Youth Conference, with focus on the theme ‘Shaping the Future’ would bring together young leaders from different sectors in Nigeria and across the continent, who are working to make social impact in their communities.

The convener of the Conference and founder of Boys Champion, Noel Ifeanyi Alumona, told journalists that renowned personalities, the former Presidential Candidate, Prof Pat Utomi, Bishop (Prof) Godfrey I. Onah of the Catholic Diocese of Nsukka, the CEO, Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, Hon Abike Dabiri Erewa and erudite scholars from Oxford, Cambridge and Vanderbilt Universities would make presentations at the event.

Alumona, who won the 2022 AFS Award for Young Global Citizens recently, told newsmen that the conference would provide an interactive forum with young people as part of the ongoing campaign by the non-governmental organization, Boys Champion, to arrest the spate of violence against women in local communities.

He noted that participants would be exposed to impactful and transformative panels, workshop and speeches by high profile resource persons, and help them to build sustainable networking for personal and career development.

It is expected that the participants would become the vanguard of the crusade in their local communities, and spread the value chain across the length and breadth of the African continent.

He expressed optimism that the conference would be profitable for youths in tapping from the resources of different speakers who had made their mark in education, humanitarian, political, business, and other areas of human endeavor.

He further explained that the conference was his little way of giving back to the society and promote intercultural dialogue to stem the tide of violence against girls and women in African society.

According to him, the programme would also be a golden opportunity to several deprived youths by creating a viable platform for them to gain quality training and mentoring sessions from captains of industry, erudite scholars as well as local and international experts.

He said delegates would have the opportunity for question and answer sessions with leading experts, and also build lasting relationships and connections that could help them advance their works and social contracts with the people in their respective communities.

The Conference, he said, would feature Plenary Session where experts would discuss Global Education and the Nigerian Struggle, Opportunities for Youth, Gender Equality and Women Inclusion, Ethical Leadership, Conflict Prevention and Peace-building, among others.Dr Maureen Manning of The Pie News, USA would be the keynote speaker at the conference, which would also include presentations by Daniel Obst, President of AFS Intercultural Programs, USA, Prof. Veronica Boix Mansilla, Harvard University, USA and Dr. Nancy Dickson, from Vanderbilt University, USA.

Other speakers expected at the event include: Dr Helmut Schuster, from the United Kingdom, Rtd. General Chris Eze, former Ambassador of Nigeria to India, Augustine Achu, United States Marines Corp, Virginia USA, Hawa Taylor, United Nations Global Communications Office, Dr Onyeka Nwelue, Visiting Fellow, Oxford University and Chike Nwoke, Carleton University, Canada.

Other speakers lined up for the conference include: the CEO, Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, Hon Abike Dabiri, Ephraim Bassey, United States Institute of Peace, Prof. Pat Utomi, Founder, Center for Value in Leadership, Osowobi Oluwaseun Ayodeji, Founder, Stand to End Rape, Hauwa Ojeifo, Founder, Shewriteswoman and Prof. Joy Ezeilo, HOD Law, University of Nigeria, Enugu Campus.

Scholars lined up to discuss the theme of Global Education and the Nigerian Struggle at the conference include: Prof. Veronica Boix Mansilla, Harvard University, USA, Dr. Nancy Dickson Vanderbilt University, USA, Bishop Godfrey I. Onah, Catholic Bishop of Nsukka, Chike Nwoke, Carleton University, Canada, among others.