REPORT AND RESOLUTIONS REACHED AT THE END OF THE NYCN CONGRESS HELD IN MAKURDI

THE COMPREHENSIVE REPORT AND RESOLUTIONS REACHED AT THE END OF THE CONGRESS OF THE NATIONAL YOUTH COUNCIL OF NIGERIA TAGGED UNITY NATIONAL CONGRESS (MAKURDI 2013) HELD AT AMINU ISA KANTAGORA THEATRE HALL FROM WEDNESDAY, 23RD MAY TO SUNDAY 26TH, 2013, MAKURDI, BENUE STATE.

The constitution which is the supreme and legal document of the council (see Article 3 (a and b) page 2 of the NYCN constitution which empowers the congress as the highest level of decision making in the council (see Article 10.1V) page 11, and having met half ½ of all members at the congress [see schedule 2(b)] page of the NYCN constitution, the congress resolved as thus:

1.0 The congress appreciates the Federal Government of Nigeria, under the Leadership of Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan GCFR, the President of Federal Republic of Nigeria for showing interest towards Youth Development in the nation.

2.0 The congress further appreciates all the stakeholders in Youth Development across the Nation for their entire role in giving direction to the youth in the federation.

3.0 The congress also thanks all the stakeholders that attended the official and formal opening of the congress held on Friday 25th May, 2013, more importantly the Hon. Minister of Youth Development, the Governor of Benue State, ably represented by the deputy Governor, the Senior Special Assistant on Youth and Students Matters to the President, the Commissioner for Youth in Benue State, Past and Present Leaders in the Council, Security Agencies, the press and others.

4.0 `That the congress was well attended and accreditation was done for 36 states plus Abuja –the Federal Capital and Voluntary Youth Organizations across the Nation by the leadership of the council.

5.0 That the congress observed that the Leadership of the council Led by Olawale James Ajani as Chairman of the National Transition Committee, Sotade Geroge as Chairman Congress Planning Committee and Billy Tafawa Balewa as Chairman Electoral Committee abandoned and avoided the congress on the day of election after accrediting the delegates from states and VYO’s, contrary to (Article 20 a,d,d,e) page 40 of NYCN constitution.

6.0 That having look into Article 23.1 [iii], pages 45 & 46 of NYCN constitution and a motion duly moved by Sulaiman Abubakar from United Visionary Youth of Nigeria and duly seconded by Hon. Gbadebo Taofeek, Chairman NYCN Lagos, and unanimously agreed by the congress, appointment of Ibukun Oluwole, Chairman NYCN Ekiti State and Suleiman Mazai Farouq, Chairman NYCN Kogi as Chairman and Secretary respectively to preside over the congress.

7.0 The congress finally agreed and adopted the following resolution;

(A) That the congress adopted the final copy of 2012 amended constitution of the council, duly signed by the National Transition Committee Com. Olawale James Ajani-Chairman and Dr. Tanko Yakassai- Secretary

(B) That after a motion duly moved by Ben Okori – Chairman NYCN, Cross Rivers State and duly seconded by Adeeso Sodiq M.D from Muslim Students Society of Nigeria and having more than half (1/2) of majority delegates at the congress, the following resolutions were further reached:

1. That the National Transition Committee led by Com. Olawale James Ajani and his members is hereby dissolved with immediate effect. See Article 13.2 (i& ii) page 30 of NYCN Constitution

2 That all pending and outstanding committees set up by the above are hereby dissolved. See Article 13.2 (i& ii) page 30 of NYCN Constitution.

3, That all properties, Monies of the Council in their possession should be handed over within seven (7) days from today Monday 27th May, 2013 . See Article 13.4 page 32 of NYCN Constitution.

4. That the NTC having failed to present statutory and mandatory reports at the congress for ratification and approval contrary to Article 20(F) page 41 and Article 10.1 (iv) page 11, of the NYCN Constitution, the congress demanded that all report of the NTC (Secretariat, Financial and Audit) and all its committee reports (Revalidation, Congress Planning Committee and Electoral Committee) should be submitted within seven days from today and same be forwarded to all state chapters and the member organizations.

5. That Contrary to Article 16 [e] page 37 of the NYCN Constitution and the role of the Honorable Minister to destabilize the Council, the Congress passed a vote of No confidence on the Honorable Minister of Youth Development and urge the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to replace him within a reasonable time frame.

(C) That a fifteen (15) man Transition Committee [T C] was constituted as follows:

• One [1] Chairman Representative from each of the six [6] geo- political zones in the country.

• One [1] VYO representative from each of the six [6] geo- political zones in the country.

• Two [2] Female representative for gender balance

• One [1] representative from the Federal Ministry of Youth Development

Were set up and inaugurated as members of the newly constituted Transition Committee [T.C] and they are as follows:

S/N NAMES STATE/ VYO ZONE

1 IDIOGBE SOLOMON EDO SOUTH-SOUTH

2 KAZEEM AKANDE ASS. OF YOUTH FOR HUMANITARIAN SERVICE VYO

3 ABEL ABAJI MIDDLE BELT YOUTH ORGANIZATION VYO

4 JOPHIA N. GUPAR AFRICA LEAGUE ORGANIZATION VYO

5 FIDELIS OKHUEGBE CATHOLIC YOUTH VYO

6 OSAADE BAMIDELE ADVENTIST YOUTH VYO

7 ALLEN A. AKIN NIVOSA VYO

8 BARTHOLOMEW OKOUDO YOUTH ENVIRONMENT PROJECT VYO

9 WAIDI FADOLA ONDO SOUTH-WEST

10 HASSAN MAMMAN YOBE NORTH-EAST

11 KAZEEM ADEKEYE KWARA NORTH-CENTRAL

12 KABIRU YUSSUF KADUNA NORTH-WEST

13 TEMPLE CHINEDU ENUGU SOUTH-EAST

14 SAFIYA IBRAHIM OGOH WOMEN &YOUTH OPINION LEADERS FORUM VYO

15        REPRESENTATIVE OF THE MINISTRY OF YOUTH DEVELOPMENT

C.[1]. That the term of reference of the committee is as follows;

1. That the Transition Committee has a maximum of ninety [90] days starting from today Monday 27th May, 2013 to do the following;

A] Conduct Congress/ Election of new leadership for the national body of NYCN

B] Run day to day activities of the council

C] Be in-charge/ custody of all the council properties, finance and other affairs pending the congress

2. That, after ninety [90] days, if the committee failed to conduct congress/ Election for whatever reason, they stand automatically dissolved.

Today Monday 27th day of May, 2013

Signed,

Ibukun Oluwole                                                                                              Suleiman Mazai Farouq

Presiding Chairman                                                                                      Secretary

Ref: Electoral Committee (ELECO), Minna 2013 Congress

Address Delivered by the NYCN President at the World Assembly of Youth in Malaysia

BEING A SPEECH PRESENTED BY COMRADE ABDULLAHI ABDULMAJEED, PRESIDENT NATIONAL YOUTH COUNCIL OF NIGERIA AT THE 13TH INTERNATIONAL YOUTH DIALOGUE OF THE WORLD ASSEMBLY OF YOUTHS (WAY) IN MELAKA, MALAYSIA ON THE 14th OF SEPTEMBER, 2013

Across the world civic activists, community builders and youth advocates are sounding the call to realign and re-envision the roles of youth in society. The call appears to be resonating now more than ever, not just at a louder volume but also at a distinct frequency. May I stand before you today at the World Assembly of Youths (WAY) International Youth Dialogue here in Melaka to align myself and the over 70million Nigerian youths I represent as the President of the National Youth Council of Nigeria and echo that call loudly to a global audience of youth and youth development workers. As we make our declaration after this landmark event, it’s imperative to collectively renew the clarion call for total youth emancipation and liberation in all of our countries. The new call MUST go far beyond appeals for youth to be given narrowly crafted roles inside youth organizations and schools and far beyond calls for more volunteering opportunities or organizing of some jamboree youth development programmes. Young people must move out of their comfort zones, step outside the clubhouses and football viewing centres into their communities and mainstream of their societies and begin to make concerted efforts towards achieving more significant types of action — organizing, advocacy, sustained service — that yield more visible, more powerful results for their communities and societies. I say it to you today that I am convinced based on evidential fact that now more than ever before - Youth want to make a difference . . . 

Contrary to the popular portrayal of today’s young people especially in the continent of Africa as self-absorbed and socially inert, inexperienced and lacking in capacity, outcome of vast body of research reveals a portrait of a generation not searching to distance itself from the community and society, but instead actively looking for new and distinctive ways to connect to the people and issues surrounding them while taking responsibility for their actions and the society’s challenges. Young people do not want to play games or sit in spectators’ gallery of life’s activities, we are very willing to partner with all stakeholders in ensuring that our societies are developed and harmonious enough for us to achieve our shared prosperity. We are passionate about showcasing our leadership skills in organizing and managing our affairs especially through taking the lead in the design and implementation of our youth centric and youth development programmes. However, we respond to community programs that encourage us to partner with adults through mentorship, taking responsibility and skills development.

As much as we appreciate all efforts being put in place by our governments and other stakeholders to design processes and activities in form of programmes and initiatives aimed at increasing our capacity, skills and experience, we must differ in concept and express our reservations to every youth development initiative that adopts an approach which seeks to perceive youths as consumers of the finished products (youth development programmes and training) and not as co-producers and organizes of such efforts. We therefore demand that all efforts for us must be by us and with us if they are truly for us. We want to do it differently.

At this juncture, It pleases me to inform you and indeed the entire youths of the world that in pursuance of the above defined vested interest, a new style of leadership is emerging among our nation’s youth in Nigeria, one that is characterized by collaboration, inclusion, cross-sectoral partnership, vision, and a commitment to change neighborhoods, communities, societies and, even our country at large. The seed of such milestone feat was sown in the spirit and passion exhibited by Nigerian youths in the process that culminated into the production of the present crop of leaders of the National Youth Council of Nigeria headed by my humble self in a congress that has been adjudged to be the most free, fair and credible election in the history of the youth council or any youth organization in Nigeria.

It will interest you to know that over the past few years, a convergence of interest in youth engagement and re-alignment emerged among those of us who have youth development, civic engagement or community development as our primary focus and we reasoned that the sharp decline and regression being experienced in youth development activities in our country can only be eliminated if the umbrella youth organization of our country has a strong and virile leadership that can give clear direction and focus to the over 7o million youths they lead. Our reasoning was closely followed by days, weeks, months and years of painful and resilient toiling towards the actualization of that objective.

Today, the National youth council in Nigeria has a brand new leadership that is quite formidable and consistent with the pragmatic leadership ethos of the global youth leadership needed in the 21^st century. And already there appears to be an overall increase in visible, meaningful youth involvement activities and awareness within such a short time. We are convinced that leveraging on this development, combined with other emerging realities in our political space and the uncommon drive and zeal for Nigerian youths to strive for change, these trends may serve to raise expectations and increase opportunities for our youth to actualize our age long dream of being truly Involved!!!.

It is our expectation that before the end of the year, the youth umbrella in Nigeria would have completed its first phase of its reformation schema, which is re-orientation, re-alignment, revitalization, and redirection of all member organizations, states chapters and every other body central to the achievement of total youth development in Nigeria.

Finally, I urge all youth leaders present to commit to the re-alignment of the global youth leadership status and localize the efforts in our individual countries by ensuring that we have very strong and formidable youth leadership in place while advancing the cause of youth enhancement through participation .The key is the discovery and promotion of more and, especially, more meaningful pathways to adult- hood for young people. The challenge is to advance and reshape society’s understanding of meaningful youth roles so that more relevant supports and opportunities are forthcoming. In general, we need to encourage young people, especially those whose families and communities currently lack power and resources, to become change agents in their own organizations and societies.

Fortunately, this event is coming at a point in time when the interests of youth, the needs of our societies and the lessons of past efforts are converging to illuminate the nature and source of pathways toward this goal of enhancing the status of youths globally. I therefore charge you all to accept and personalize this vision. The vision, simple but powerful, is youth action: young people making a difference in their communities — often in partnership with adults — to effect changes in things that are important to them and the community at large.

I hope these few words will contribute to the efforts aimed at galvanizing momentum and motivating us as youth leaders to re-dedicate ourselves to the imperative and daunting task of leading the cause of youth renaissance in our societies and the world at large.

Thank you so much for listening to me!!!

God bless you all.

Abdullah Abdulmajeed,

President,

National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN)