Lagos State Commissioner for Youth and Social Development, Mr. Olusegun Dawodu has congratulated the newly elected Chairman of the National Youth Council of Nigeria (Lagos State Chapter), Comrade Olalekan Biliaminu Sulaimon-Oba and other executive members of the Council with a charge to use their positions to advance the cause of Lagos State Youths.
The congratulatory message was contained in a statement issued by the Commissioner following the announcement of the newly elected officers to the various positions in the Council after the peaceful conduct of their election on Saturday, 4th July, 2020 at the Teslim Balogun Stadium, Surulere amidst strict adherence to all COVID-19 safety protocols.
Oba, the former Coordinator, Ikorodu Local Government LG, won the State chairmanship election with 102 votes against his closest rival, Kuku, who polled 95votes. Other contestants – Olusi, Gbenga Nathaniel and Amusu polled 60, 46 and 19 votes respectively.
He advised the new leadership of the State Chapter of the Council to complement the vision of the Ministry and the State Government in order to bequeath the legacy of a Greater Lagos to the Youth, imploring them to shun all social vices and exhibit good behaviour, especially now that their actions and conduct would be subject to public scrutiny.
While recalling several crises that had bedevilled the Council in the past years, Dawodu expressed satisfaction with the role played by the Ministry of Youth and Social Development, and Transition Committee of the Council who resolved to follow the noble path of peace.
“The Ministry, over the past five years, made several efforts to resolve the impasse within the Council. These efforts paid off toward the end of the year 2019 when peace was brokered, with the eventual inauguration of the Transition Committee to oversee the affairs of the Council”, the Commissioner said.
The Commissioner also encouraged the new executives to continue to broker peace and guide against issues that could lead to an internal crisis within the Council in the interest of the organisation and the entire youths in the State.
Dawodu maintained that the just concluded election will give the Council a new status and enjoined all the candidates who participated in the election to embrace the spirit of sportsmanship and accept the result of the election in good faith.
He commended the State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu for his support throughout the transition period, assuring that the youth body, through the newly elected leaders can now form a formidable force with the State Government to promote youth-friendly policies and programmes.
The Commissioner promised the youth council of the constant support of the State Government through the Ministry, urging them to explore the open door policy of the present administration to always express themselves and get the buy-in of the government in all their activities.
Recall that the Nation Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN), exists at the National, State and Local Government levels. It is an umbrella body which represents young people and is charged with policy formulation and implementation of issues bordering on youth development in Nigeria. The organisation also provides a platform for the advancement, mobilisation and coordination of youth development in Nigeria.
