Wale Jagun & Mariam Akinloye
Children, Youth, and Woman Empowerment Initiative (ChiYoWo), a community development platform which has youth as its primary focus, has opened a collaborative platform to partner the umbrella body of youth organizations in Ikorodu Division – the National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN), and bring further development to the youth and community at large.
ChiYoWo opened the communication line at the engagement session tagged, “Youth Leaders Dialogue”, organized in commemorative of the 2026 International Youth Day, where they engaged youth stakeholders across the six council areas in the division – Ikorodu Local Government, Ikorodu West LCDA, Ikorodu North LCDA, Igbogbo/Baiyeku LCDA, Ijede LCDA and Imota LCDA.
At the interactive event held at the NGO’s office, 27, Etunrenren Road, off Benson Bus Stop, Ikorodu, during the week, youth leaders had the opportunity to present how they have impacted their members and the community with Community Development Impact Awards presented to the six NYCN chapters in appreciation of their efforts.
Mr Michael Stephen Okereke, Program Assistant, ChiYoWo, speaking with THE IMPACT, said that his organization founded the program to appreciate, and establish partnership and collaboration with the youth groups.
“Basically, this program was put up as an organisation that has youth at the centre of its activities, and also to celebrate youth in Ikorodu Division.
“What we are doing today is to bring youth leaders across communities in Ikorodu division together, and have them tell their impact stories, while at our own end commend and appreciate their efforts for what they are doing, because, Ikorodu division, in time past, do have some not too good stories, but looking at activities today, we have fantastic youth organisations that are making the difference in Ikorodu.
“They have been doing very good jobs projecting the community, impacting their community, and repositioning the mind set of their people which is our motto as an organisation, and that is why we brought them here together today to celebrate them, while they tell us their impact stories”.
He stressed the need for partnership with the youth groups in Ikorodu, to further develop the community.
“While interacting, we had the opportunity of establishing areas of collaboration which is part of the reasons this program is organized. So, basically, we are here to get to know each other as youth stakeholders in the division; know where our interests align; places where we can work together; points of collaboration and from what they said, we have all agreed to work together and collaborate.
“We are open to collaboration from them if they have any initiative which they felt that we can work together on and at our own end too, we will also be contacting them and bring them around whenever we have progams and collaborate with them in their various communities”.
Mr Okereke urged youth in Ikorodu, the nation at large and globally on the need for them to continue to thrive, to make difference, and positively impact their communities.
“As an NGO that is focus on youth empowerment, it is our message to all the youth in Ikorodu, Lagos, Nigeria, Africa and the world at large, that youth are powerful, resilient and they are the engine room of every society. It is on this note that we are calling on them to not forget who they are, and positively make use of the advantage for the betterment of themselves, their family and the nation at large”.
Comr. Jackson Adewale A.O, Youth Coordinator, National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN), Ikorodu North LCDA, during the interactive session, presented his chapter’s achievements to include free UTME tutorial for JAMB candidates and facilitation of over 500 free JAMB forms from the council chairman; mobilization for PVC and political sensitization; symposium on youth participation in governance, organizing Apanishile Football Championship; and community clean up exercise.
He also listed facilitation of employment for 150 youths in governmental and private organisations and skill and digital empowerment for youth among the achievements.
He described the ChiYoWo’s engagement as a good platform to interact and exchange ideas.
“It is a powerful platform to showcase our work, share our impact, exchange ideas and strengthen partnerships for the development of young people and our communities”.
Coordinator, Imota NYCN, Comrade Oriyomi Adebogun, also presenting the impacts made under his administration, listed that 433 out-of-school were identified and mapped and 167 successfully re -enrolled into eight public schools; merging of 31 youth groups in Imota under a unified network; reached over 150 households via home – grown farming; provision of employment opportunities to17 youths and facilitation of technology & vocational training for 20 youths among others.
Comrade Taiwo Anuoluwapo, NYCN Coordinator, Ikorodu West LCDA who stated that a total of 53 youth organisations are affiliated to the NYCN listed Entrepreneurship;
security awareness; education and academic advancement through which free JAMB and GCE forms and scholarship were offered; community health awareness; economic empowerment with Moneypoint; youth skill development and civic engagement and environment interventions among many others
He said that the branch emerged as the overall best in Lagos State due to these activities
