Xenophobia: South Africa Proposes Solution To Nigerian Youths

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

The meeting which held in Abuja 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).

Speaking with the media after the closed-door meeting, Moroe said that the South African government would partner Nigeria to implement an exchange programme with the youths.

According to the high commissioner, the initiative would entail that Nigerian youths and students leaders travel to South Africa on cultural exchange and dialogue with the youths and student leaders there.

He said this would serve as a way forward to the present situation and would encourage the 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.

“Based on the discussion that we had, it is important for us to chat the cause for unity between Nigerians and South Africans at this period, because we share historical values.

“There is a need for us to cultivate the culture of tolerance and co-existence between the people of South Africa and the people of Nigeria.

“It is important that we take advantage of the dialogue that we have had today to rebuild the much needed social engagement.

“It is important to educate the youth of South Africa and Nigeria to understand the history of cordiality shared between both countries and by such means, there can be appreciation”.

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.

‘’We believe that it is important that we engage in discussion with the South African people to proffer solutions to xenophobic attacks, rather than escalating the problem which can bring shame to the continent.

“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.

“This issue about the xenophobic attack is not just for governments alone, it is the youth, who can really proffer solution to it and they should not be left behind.

He called on Nigerians to remain peaceful and calm in their dealings so as to resolve the dispute at hand.

Naija News learnt that the date and duration of the proposed programme have not yet been decided by the high commission and the youth-based organisations.