Kunle Adelabu & Mariam Akinloye
-Assures NYCN of continuous support
The Publisher of THE IMPACT Newspaper, an Ikorodu – based community news medium, Kunle Adelabu, has charged youth organisations on the need to be independent and constantly engage the government, especially at the grassroots level, rather than turning to stooges.
He emphasized the need for the youth organisations to concern themselves with effective delivery of services at the local government level by ensuring that Council bosses and councilors deliver on their mandates.
Adelabu gave the charge when the new executives of the National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN), Ikorodu West Local Council Development Area (LCDA) chapter, paid him a courtesy visit at his Igbe road office recently, and also used the medium to congratulate the youth leaders on their recent emergence as representatives of youths in the council.
The team, which was led by its Coordinator, Comrade Anuoluwapo Taiwo, also comprised of Comrades Azzez Quadri (Financial Secretary), Temitope Alonge (PRO) and James Ojo.
THE IMPACT has, over the years, been partnering with youth organisations in Ikorodu, especially the NYCN.
“I welcome you to our organisation and congratulate you on your emergence as representatives of youths in Ikorodu West LCDA. I want to appreciate your coming, and I hope that this new executive council of the NYCN in Ikorodu West LCDA, will sustain the gains that the administration of Comrade Abubakr Asoro, achieved in the last four years before passing on the baton to you?”, he asked rhetorically.
“His (Asoro) NYCN administration is actually the best in Ikorodu, in the last four years, considering the innovative and laudable programmes it embarked upon, and I wasn’t surprised when he was called upon to move to the state level.
“Endeavour to sustain some of his administration’s educational programmes, youth engagements, community initiatives and social programmes. You guys also have to initiate new ones on your own”, he said.
Responding to request by the youth leaders on how they can improve on the organisation’s delivery, THE IMPACT publisher charged them on the need to be independent and not turn into stooges of the government in power.
He further charged them on the need to have a quarterly engagement with the Council Chairmen and Councilors, to know what they are doing with the public funds.
“This may be difficult, but I don’t like it when youth organizations are politicised and heavily dependent on the government for funding. I want it to be better. I don’t know how you can cope or survive without that, but it is possible if you are proactive and innovative.
“I always cherish when a youth organisation is independent to serve as a watchdog. It doesn’t mean that you have to be criticizing all the time, but there is need for engagement and criticize the Chairman when necessary.
“There is a need to take up your Councilors on what they are doing with your mandates and question them on their duties. It is also your duty to take up the Council Supervisors on their performances.
“You have to engage them constructively on what they are doing. If youth organisations across the Ikorodu Division, can be doing more of that, I think that we are not going to be having lazy people in positions as Councilors or Chairmen.
“That is just the essence of youth organisations. You have to go back to the history of the development of the youth movement in Nigeria, to see how it evolved.
“NYCN begging or seeking for office space within the local government is wrong and should be discouraged. I want to see NYCN at local, state and federal levels with some level of independence. You must be for the people at all times, especially the youths.
“I would love to see NYCN working more with NGOS, international organisations and service bodies. Through them, you can get fundings and partnership for your programmes, instead of running to the politicians at all times.
“If you are innovative and proactive, you can get across to the British Council, UN bodies and others, They have programs that you can benefit from. You just have to explore instead of sitting in your comfort zones.
“They just want to see what you have been doing and what you intend to do with their funds and support”.
While stating that the youth leaders should see themselves as the representatives of the entire youths, Adelabu charged them on the need to have quarterly forum with their Council Chairman and Councilors, to find out what they are doing.
“Either you know it or not, you guys are representatives of the entire youths, so, they need you to engage the elected council officials on their behalf. What have they been doing in the last three months? You can pick two sectors, e.g infrastructure and health, in each quarter, and discuss with them.
“This is how you can constructively partner the council and let them know that they are being watched. This will earn you more respect. I doubt if this can stop them from giving you any allocation that is meant for you.
“As a youth organization, you should be able to visit the State House of Assembly, to see what they are doing there. You can sit down in the gallery to see how debates are canvassed and marshalled. This is how you can know what your representatives in Ikorodu Constituency I and II are doing on the floor of the house. This is how to know how they are representing you and I, and engage them on it.
“Through that, you will have an idea of how the legislative business is conducted and with that knowledge, engage your Councilors by also visiting their Chamber at least twice a week to see how they are conducting their legislative business at the council level. That is how to know who is fit or not.
“It is your right and nobody can prevent you from witnessing their session. I used to attend sessions at the State Assembly and at the Ikorodu LG and Igbogbo/Bayeku LCDA years back. You should do all these as youth leaders”.
Adelabu charged the NYCN executives on the need to embark on collection of data of students in lkorodu West LCDA, that are in various higher institutions, for the purpose of developmental purposes.
“As a youth organization, you can engage in data gathering of students in lkorodu West LCDA, across higher institutions in Nigeria. Collection of data on this would go a long way in assisting you in your planning and that of the local government.
“The lack of data is a major bane of development in our society, and you can start something in this regard. Any community without data, cannot grow and develop.
“With accurate data of people in Ikorodu, we can plan for facilities like roads, schools and primary health centres among others. You can partner the Ikorodu West LCDA and Student Union in the council, on this.
“You have to monitor youths’ admission into higher institutions and with this, you will be able to determine those in need of assistance in schools and call the council’s attention to it, because we still need them to return after their education, to develop the community.
“Put in place a mechanism to monitor how students that gained admission into higher institutions through your free GCE and JAMB forms. This is something that you can do to make a different”, he said.
Speaking earlier, Comrade Anuoluwapo, Coordinator, NYCN Ikorodu West LCDA, said that his immediate predecessor, Comrade Abubakr Asoro, recommended the THE IMPACT publisher to him as someone that his administration can work with.
He said that the visit was to thank the publisher for his ceaseless support and partnership with NYCN, lkorodu West chapter, and also to strengthen the relationship between the NYCN Ikorodu West LCDA and THE IMPACT newspaper.
“When Asoro told me about THE IMPACT, he was like you should work with the publisher. IMPACT is someone you can work with that is diligent and competent in his job.
“I was like I did not know IMPACT, and he forwarded your contact to me and after I chatted with you, you showed a good community spirit.
“The first day that I chatted with you and I said we would love to work with you in promoting our activities, you just said that there is no problem and you told me that you have another programme on the day of our event, and requested that I should send our press release
“The release was sent and before we knew, it was published. We sent the same thing to another publisher (name withheld), but he said that he cannot do the work for free, and also said a lot of things.
“We really appreciate you and that is why we are here to thank you and also strengthen our working relationship with you for the betterment of Ikorodu West LCDA. That is why we are here, sir”, he said.
Other executives took their turn to commend THE IMPACT publisher for his support for the youths and for using his media platform for community development.
