By Abimbola Joseph
CITIZENS COMPASS – Mr Asoro Abubakri, Vice Chairman, National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN) (Lagos -East) on Tuesday, advised youths to renew their hope and be a catalyst to drive the socio-economic growth of the country.
He disclosed this during an interview with Citizen Compass in Lagos.
He enjoined youths to participate in the coming Local Government election and urged stakeholder to ensure more inclusion of youths and women as their flag bearers.
“My advice for the youths is to renew their hope in the country in the coming year and see themselves as a major actor not a spectator to drive change at the grassroot.
“They must be prepared to come out enmasse to contest on various platforms of political parties in the coming local government election.
“They should come out to exercise their franchise in prioritising good governance above vote buying and selling.
“Stakeholders must also ensure the 30% inclusion for youth and women in choosing their flag bearers,” he said.
According to him, adoption of youth empowerment programs is a strategy for sustainable development and thus advised the government to focus attention more on youth empowerment by involving them more in the decision-making process.
He said that NYCN recently celebrated its 60th anniversary as a litmus test for its achievement so far as the umbrella body and authentic mouthpiece for the Nigeria youth as established by the national Youth policy.
He stressed that Issues of funding has been a cankerworm causing a lot of hindrance and has made partnerships and access to grants inevitable and the way to go.
Abubakri added that sustainable unity of purpose by the organisation would continue to be a driving force that would enable it to continue to speak with one voice and build the confidence of Nigerian youth.
He said that NYCN must also continue to position itself to genuinely speak the interest of young people devoid of politics and urged them to be modest and use the social media energy to drive change in the grassroots.
“I urge young people to celebrate modestly and channel the social media energy in driving change.
“They should channel it to the coming Lagos State Local Government elections because good governance begins at the grassroot,” he said.
Abubakri thanked all political leaders, Lawmakers and the council chairmen that have supported and contributed to the success of the organisation in Ikorodu and beyond
