Youth Initiators Nigeria
The Youth Initiators Nigeria was started in December 2003 with three founding members who were inspired to impact their generation positively. The organization over the years has grown with a membership of over fifty dedicated young people. Youth Initiators Nigeria has partnered with government, the private sector, international organizations and the civil society to carry out its activities. One such activity is the hosting of the first ever National Youth Leadership Training Summit in Nigeria where young leaders where drawn from across the six geopolitical zones to be taught on the MDGS and its implication for poverty reduction, peace and security, HIV/AIDS, gender etc. The report of this event has been published in “Rising Their Voices”. A widely read and latest publication on young people and their efforts towards achieving the millennium development goals. The report is featured in the Millennium Campaign page, the UN Youth page and other UN agencies and divisions website. The link to the publication is http://www.takingitglobal.org/resources/toolkits/view.html?ToolkitID=761

Additionally, we also observed the 2005 International day of peace in Enugu, Nigeria. It featured lectures, prayers, citations and some excerpts from the Apatafo manual where also made use of. Questionnaires distributed and collected at the end of the event indicated that ninety nine percent of those that attended have never witnessed an International Day of Peace celebration or event.

Again, the Youth Initiators Nigeria in March 2006 facilitated a peace building and health training summit for secondary school students and teachers in Enugu state. It organized this event in collaboration with the Enugu state ministry of education, the Alliance Francaise, DFID, UNICEF and Society for Family Health. We made use of the Apatafo Manual for the training. After the Summit, Peace and Health clubs where established in some schools in Enugu state for a pilot project.

The 2005 Apeadu Peace Conference has greatly impacted my life and motivated me to embark on projects and programs aimed at bringing lasting peace to our World. Many thanks to Dr Harriet, Nana, Audrey Kitigawa and all who have contributed immensely to bringing such educative and life changing programs to African Youths.