Xenophobia: South Africa Makes New Offer To Nigerian Youths

 

 

Bobby Moroe, Acting High Commissioner of South Africa to Nigeria, on Wednesday in Abuja, held a meeting with some Nigerian youth groups and proposed cultural exchange programmes between the two countries.

 

The meeting was organised by the high commission in collaboration with the National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN), Global Peace Initiative (GPI) and Committee of Youth on Mobilisation and Sensitisation (CYMS) and National Association of Nigeria Students (NANS).

 

While briefing the media on outcome of closed door meeting with NANS, NYCN and CYMS, Moroe said that South African government would partner Nigeria to implement an exchange programme with the youths.

 

The high commissioner said that the initiative provides that Nigerian youths and students leaders travel to South Africa on cultural exchange and dialogue with their counterparts, as a way forward to the present situation.

 

According to him, this is to encourage exchange of ideas and views to promote relations between the two countries from the prism of youth leaders and come up with progressive recommendations, NAN reports.

 

Moroe said: “The NYCN, GPI and CYMS have declared their readiness to do this and we are making arrangement to achieve the desired goals.

 

Also speaking, Mr Bala Shagari, President of NYCN, said the meeting was important for both countries to tow that path of peace, rather than looting of shops and business properties.

 

“As a result of our discussion we have agreed that we are going to South Africa to hear from them directly and to also get to the root cause of the problem and bring an end to it,” Shagari said.

 

He said that solution to the crisis should not just be left for governments of both countries alone, but urged youths to key into platforms for engagement in discussions to chat way forward.

 

Also, the Director General of CYMS, Obinna Nwaka, promised to produce comprehensive reports from the programme and submitted to governments of both countries.

 

 

He, however, appealed to Nigerians to be patient, calm and remain peaceful in their dealings, to promote amicable resolution of the dispute.

 

NAN reports that the date and duration of the proposed programme is yet to be decided by the high commission and the youth based organisations.

 

Meanwhile, the National Association of Nigeria Students (NANS), has opposed the proposed cultural exchange programme between Nigeria and South African youths to address xenophobic attacks on Nigeria and promote unity between the two countries.

 

The President of NANS, Danielson Akpan, said this shortly after a news briefing by the Acting High Commissioner of South Africa to Nigeria.

Akpan said the proposed exchange programme by the South African High Commission and the Federal Government for youths and students’ body would not work in view of the prevailing situation in South Africa.

 

 

He said attacks by South Africans on Nigerians and other nationals were unjustifiable and condemnable.