Hasken Matasa’: A Youth Empowerement Program Begins to Air in Kano

‘Hasken Matasa’: A Youth Empowerement Program Begins to Air in Kano

By Mohammed Dahiru Lawal

As youth restiveness continues to threaten social security and socio economic development, the need to empower young people in Africa through media and communication is becoming

more crucial.

It is on this premise that the Aminu Magashi Garba foundation initiated and

sponsored a media programme “for the youths by the youths,” in partnership with Community Health Research Initiative (CHR) and Youth Society for the Prevention of Infectious Diseases and Social Vices (YOSPIS).

Dubbed, “Hasken Matasa (light upon youths),” to be aired every Wednesday, 04:30-05:30pm on express radio 90.3fm Kano, the programme will dissect challenges in areas of Health, Education, Socio-Economic Development, Water Sanitation and Hygiene, Peace and Security, and proffer actionable solutions for the betterment of young people towards positively impacting their lives.

The program has been envisioned to be a unique and dynamic one, envisioned to identify challenges, discus ways

forward, come up with policy briefs and use the instrumentalities of advocacy to demand the needed intervention from those responsible.

Prior to the first broadcast of the programme on August 4th, a weekend retreat which was hosted by Africa Health Budget Network (AHBN) was convened with development and media experts from various walks of life at the venue of the retreat – Ina Lamung Hall, Bafra Hotel, Kaduna State, to brainstorm and marshal out a two months comprehensive plan – script, content, subjects, resource persons – etc for the maiden outing of ‘Hasken Matasa’.

While taking participants through the objective of the retreat, the convener, Dr. Aminu Magashi Garba explained that such initiative has become imperative as it is time for his generation to take the back seat and they would want to do so confidently knowing that leadership is in good hands.

According to him, youth restiveness is a two sided coin which includes, “the challenges they are facing and the one they are creating,” and it has become crucial to identify those issues and create an evidence based radio programme geared at mitigating these issues.

He explained that it is a multi-pronged initiative that will deploy media and communication for youth empowerment. While the programme airs on one side, a small newsletter/policy brief highlighting key points of discussion and recommendations which will be circulated among key stakeholders and also used as an advocacy instrument for needed intervention.

There will also be a concurrent live broadcast of the programme via facebook for online

audience across borders. Comments and questions from the online audience will be addressed by the presenter and discussants.

The programmed will also entertain phone in sessions and recorded clips can serve as archival or training resources/materials in the future.

“This is important because Kano is a bustling population and with growing population comes new challenges, we need to be well positioned to respond to these challenges by initiating impactful ideas,” Dr. Magashi submitted.

In her goodwill message, Nafisa Ahmad Murtala who is the presenter of the programme said it is an honor for her to be the presenter of a programme that is first of its kind in any media

house in Kano.

“This kind of combination is rare, unique and unrivaled. Youths are backbone of

our society and investing in them is the right thing to do. I look forward to the production and its impacts,” she said.

On her part, the new Executive Director, Youth Society for the Prevention of Infectious Diseases and Social Vices (YOSPIS), Zainab Nasir Ahmad said being part of an initiative that will help mitigate the problems youths ate facing is something she has always been passionate about.

While speaking, the Convener and Managing Editor Arewa Agenda for Sustainable Development, Mohammad Dahiru Lawal said the media has always been a powerful tool for youth’s emancipation and empowerment as demonstrated by NOKIA and UNESCO in some African countries.

He expressed delight that ‘Hasken Matasa’ has brought a beacon of light for the Nigerian youth.

Also, Mallam Ibrahim Yakubu Mohammad, BoT member, YOSPIS, stated that the program will address issues of misused opportunities by the Nigerian youths and give them a sense of how they should look at themselves.

Another board member, Mallam Yahaya Al-Yakub took participants through memory lane of how YOSPIS and CHR, both partners in the programme, started as a student based initiative, nothing that with their collective support, ‘Hasken Matasa’ will be a living programme.

The retreat went further to identify several challenges in areas of Health, Education, Socio-economic Development, Water Sanitation and Hygiene and Peace and Security.

Also in attendance at the retreat are Sulaiman Umar Jalo, Community Health Research Initiative (CHR), Muhammad Sani Fagge, Africa Health Budget Network (AHBN), Abdulwasiu Abdulkareem, Africa Health Budget Network (AHBN), and Muhammad Salisu Abdullahi, Africa Health Budget Network (AHBN).

Others are Salisu Musa Muhammad, Africa Health Budget Network (AHBN), Dr. Musa Mohammad Bello, Community Health Research Initiative (CHR), Asmau Ahmad Rufai, Community Health Research Initiative (CHR), Maimuna Abdulrahman, Africa Health Budget Network (AHBN) and Abigail Ogah, Africa Health Budget Network (AHBN).

Mohammed Dahiru Lawal is a Staff Writer with PRNigeria