Wale Jagun
-Future leadership informed our youth -oriented cabinet -Aroyewun
The leadership of the National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN), Lagos State Chapter, under Engr. Ibrahim Olalekan Adigun (MNSE), has commended the Chairman, Igbogbo/Baiyeku Local Council Development Area (LCDA), Omo’ba Hammed Olalekan Aroyewun for his impactful youth initiatives and empowerment programmes.
Engr Adigun gave the commendations when he visited the council administrator with members of his state NYCN executive council including State Deputy Chairman, Sen. Comfort Olafare, State Legal Adviser, and the Lagos East Vice Chairman, Comrade Asoro Abubakri Olatunji among others and also officers of the youth body from various council areas.
Also part of the team were representatives of the NDLEA and voluntary organisations like the Boys Brigade, Girls Guide, Boys Scout and the Sheriff Guide among others.
The purpose of the visit – continuation of the youth body’s campaign against menace like drug/substance abuse, cultism and also to engage youth in civic education especially in the area of getting their PVCs and being part of the political process.
Through this campaign, tagged, ‘Back To Street Initiative”, the NYCN is calling for actions against the menace, engaging the streets, empowering young people and shaping a better Lagos together.
Adigun, after presenting the three areas of focus of the NYCN campaign, informed the IBLCDA executive chairman of the efforts of the youth leadership towards this agenda and also lauded Aroyewun for his impacts on the youth.
“It is long overdue for us to be here officially. Ever since you have emerged and assumed office, you have been working tirelessly, and it is evident when we got here, we observed that the council environment has been busy with activities. People are coming in and going out.
“When I entered this conference room, I saw a wonderful vision. I saw something audacious that can only be conceived by a visionary leader somebody who wants to leave a lasting legacy.
“The single prayer I want to pray for you is that God Almighty will make it easy for you. May God continue to be your strength. I wish you success.
“We appreciate what you have done today by appreciating the youth constituency and encouraging us. Your presence here to host us is a testament to the fact that you value anything that has to do with youth development. We appreciate you for that.
Adigun continued lauding Aroyewun over his youth – oriented administration: “We want to appreciate you for the wonderful and impactful initiatives you have been running for young people. We saw the evidence today. There are some chairmen who claim to have done many things with no evidence. But in your case, the evidence is clear and visible.
“You are running a 3-day capacity development programme for young people. What young people need most is engagement, employment, and empowerment. When they have these opportunities, issues like substance abuse, cultism, hooliganism, and gangsterism will reduce drastically,” he said.
The NYCN Lagos Chapter Chairperson also acknowledged Aroyewun for his youth oriented cabinet.
“Finally, Mr. Chairman, I want to thank you for having a youth-oriented cabinet and a youth-oriented team. When you look to the left, you see a young person. When you look to the right, you see a young person. Even our HoD agrees she is just 15 years old. We celebrated her 15th birthday recently.
“On behalf of the entire youth of Lagos, we appreciate you greatly. We do not take this for granted. Please forgive us,” Engr. Adigun said.
Omo’ba Aroyewun in his remarks during the visit, stated and emphasised the impacts of youth in his emergence as the executive chairman while adding that the cabinet and initiatives of his administration revolved around this.
“Let me use this opportunity to thank the youth of this division. I am saying this with all sense of responsibility. When I was aspiring to become the executive chairman, there was no aspirant in the entire division that enjoyed the kind of support I received from the youth.
“Even the decision-makers at that time knew there would be an issue if they did not give me the ticket. The youth front was solidly united behind my candidacy, and that was the platform I used to emerge as Chairman today. I will never take that support for granted.,”
Emphasising that his choice of youth -oriented cabinet is not just to empower them, rather, to also groom them for leadership.
“As rightly said, we carefully and systematically chose our cabinet, and it is dominated by young people. The reason is simple — we are looking at the next ten years. It is about leadership, opportunity, and preparation. I am happy and I thank them once again. Because of their daily support, the youth platform is always inclusive in our governance.
“If we are performing and achieving results, it is because of the brilliant ideas coming from the vibrant young people around me. The strength that runs in my blood is the support of the youth and their brilliance,” Aroyewun added.
Aroyewun, who said that he is privileged to be in office as the Executive Chairman, challenged the youth to always come up with ideas and initiatives to create opportunities for others.
“With the initiative of one million, I want to challenge our youth: Any idea or initiative that will create opportunities, bring good governance, bring people closer to government and take government closer to the people we are open to, anywhere, any day.
“Because to drive any policy successfully, if the youth platform is not carried along, it is a waste of time. So, I am calling on you once again for your continued support of this government and my colleagues. Bring forward ideas and initiatives that will help us achieve the Renewed Hope Agenda of Mr. President, the Team Lagos Agenda of Mr. Governor, and our own Glory Agenda for Ikorodu.
“We are grateful to receive you. To ignore the youth is to lose the election. Thank you very much. God bless you all.”
On the demands by the NYCN Igbogbo/Baiyeku LCDA, Aroyewun assured them of a standard office and provision of running costs.
“One thing we as a government have decided on is to give the NYCN a standard office. But tentatively, we’re looking at what we’re going to do,” he said.
