By Abubakar Musa Umar
The word volunteering emanated from a French word voluntaire as a result of middle French services in the military in the fifteenth century.
Soldiers at that time rendered support to victims of an incident. In the nineteenth century, Barton founded the American red cross which focuses mainly on the provision of support.
In 1881red the cross began mobilizing volunteers for disaster relief operation for victims of Johnston flood in 1889. In 20th and 21st Volunteering receive the required attention and great support from the united nation.
Volunteering is doing something or provision of services willingly that will benefits others without expecting payment in turn.
Meanwhile, Volunteering is a free service with zero expectations of money.
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Who is a volunteer?
A volunteer according to Cambridge dictionary is a person who does something especially helping other people willingly and without being forced or paid to do it. A volunteer is someone who offers help willingly without being paid.
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A volunteer undertakes a task freely. A volunteer is a service provider to a community or society.
Volunteer, therefore, is someone who is objectively providing support to people and always willing to help.
Volunteering in Africa could be seen as an opportunity to learn, give, teach, grow, etc. Generally, Africans have the same perception of volunteering as an opportunity to learn and give.
Africa is growing faster in terms of volunteering for several purposes including saving lives, acquiring skills, and income generation. Meanwhile, there is a need for government, private sectors, and international organizations to consider the following;
What the volunteers need (money, skills or both)
What is the fate of the volunteers at the end of their services
What is the impact of their services to society and to themselves?
Like other Nations, Nigeria is a volunteering state with different names, purpose, and focus.
In Nigeria, volunteering is one important aspect of youth promotion and also an opportunity to learn and share skills.
Purpose and function of volunteering are clearly stated in the Nigerian National Volunteering Survive (NNVS) which is in the office of the Secretary of the Government of the Federation.
Some of the Purpose and Function include among others Coordinating volunteering processes as a tool to fight poverty in Nigeria Eliminate anti-development factors Tribal, religious and political affiliations that hinder national unity and socio-economic well being of the people Advocacy
Building capacity of NGOs Engagement of youth in volunteering program etc.
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Netherland is considered first in terms of volunteering because in every three to four people one is volunteering.
In `1955 in Netherland volunteers sell holiday greeting cards to raise money for projects in developing countries In 2017 there are 2332 Volunteers for Unicef in Netherland. These volunteers can fulfill one of the four roles Coordinate Fundraise Educate and promote and Support The report further explain that more than 50% of Netherlands are volunteering
Sri Lanka with 46% Liberia 43% USA 42% Unfortunately Nigeria is not among the top 20 in the report.
The United nation is celebrating world volunteers day on 5th December which is designated to celebrate the power and potential of volunteerism
It is an opportunity for volunteers and volunteer organizations to raise awareness of and gain an understanding of the contribution they make to the community.
It is a unique chance for the volunteers to celebrate their input and share with the community their contribution.
The celebration includes rallies, parades, blood donation, conferences, workshops, exhibitions, fundraising, etc.
Extending kindness to others Protection of lives Promoting standard and opportunity to learn new skills which in turn leads to higher satisfaction, Improvement of and well being among others.
It’s unfortunate that the government is discouraging volunteerism in Nigeria with a notice of disengagement of the 500,000 N-power volunteers with that served their fatherland with all deserved effort, seriousness, dedication and patience.
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The recent pronouncement of disengaging these young people by the Honourable Minister of Disaster Humanitarian affairs makes some of the volunteers lose hope and some were reported to have hanged themselves.
That is the reason for their peaceful rally across the 36 states of the federation. They wanted to all on the attention of Nigerians to talk to the government and give them a better reward.
Their role in the promotion of the three sectors has been witnessed. It was clear and obvious that some of these N-Power Volunteers were made Heads in their places of assignment. Parents were happy with the changes they have witnessed in their children’s performance in school and also in the health sector. It was reported that the ongoing registration of citizens for agricultural support or loan is successfully conducted by these young people.
It is the right time government must listen to these people and consider other alternatives than disengagement. Their impact on society was vivid and should be excellently rewarded.
They should not be rewarded with the rumored GEEP loan, they deserved automatic employment or meaningful capital for a business.
Abubakar Musa Umar is an Educational analyst and bagged his M:ED from Bayero University Kano
