365 Days Of Progress And Achievement: Assessing The Commitment Of NYCN To Youth Development In Ijebu North

It has been a whole year already since the youths of our dear local government gave myself and other members of the executive the mandate to saddle the affairs of the National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN). While I am full of gratitude for the journey so far, I find it imperative to reel out some of the achievements recorded by my administration since its inception.

Immediately after my declaration as the newly elected coordinator of the National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN), Ijebu North Local Branch, I led other elected executive members and stakeholders to meet the executive local government chairman of Ijebu North, Mr. Bolaji Odusanya, for a familiarization visit. During this visit, I introduced the newly elected executives of the youth council to him and discussed the urgent need for a ‘YOUTH OFFICE’ to facilitate our daily operations. The chairman congratulated the new executives and committed to providing a youth office, a declaration that was met with applause.

Our familiarization tour continued with visits to high-profile individuals in the local government, including Hon. Joseph Adegbesan, serving House of Reps Member for Ijebu North/Ijebu East & Ogun Waterside; Mr. Tokunbo Talabi, Secretary to the Ogun State Government; Rt. Hon. Abdel-Majid Adesegun Adekoya, immediate past House of Reps Member for Ijebu North/Ijebu East & Ogun Waterside; Hon. Segun Kaka, Ogun State House of Assembly Member representing Ifelodun constituency; and Hon. Ademola Adeleye, Commissioner IV TESCOM.

We also extended our tour to traditional rulers, including HRM Oba Lawrence Jayeoba Adebajo (Orimolusi of Ijebu Igbo), HRH Oba Adesina Adenugba (Ebumawe of Ago Iwoye), Oloru of Oru, Sopenlukale of Oke Sopen, Alaporu of Ilaporu, Olokine of Ojowo, Kegbo of Atikori, Abijaparako of Japara, Limeri of Awa and Bejeroku of Oke Agbo.

Notable among the several achievements of Ijebu North NYCN leadership in the past 365 days are:

1.  Secured scholarships for fifteen students in Oke Sopen, sponsored by HRH Oba Mufutau Yusuf.

2.  Facilitation of scholarship grant to the tune of #350, 000 for Miss Priscilla Shittu, the overall best student in the 2023 JAMB Examination.

3.  In October 2023, the local government chairman fulfilled his promise by approving a youth office for the council, a landmark achievement.

4.  Organized a leadership summit and commissioned the Youth Office.

5.  Facilitated a scholarship for Busurat Basit Ayomide of Happy Home Secondary School, sponsored by Princess Dorcas Foundation.

6.  Increased the number of active affiliated organizations from twelve to include the Scout Association of Nigeria, Oke Sopen Youth Forum and Ibipe Youth Forum. The Girls’ Brigade, Ijebu North District, revalidated its affiliation with several other affiliation requests to be reviewed and considered, soon.

7.  Ensured equitable distribution of palliatives from the federal government through various youth organizations.

8.  Provided free 2024 JAMB forms for fifteen students, sponsored by a community philanthropist.

9.  Established the practice of holding quarterly meetings with rotation among the constituencies in Ijebu North.

10.  Launched the first-ever youth essay competition, with cash prizes for the top three winners.

The past year has been impactful and would not have been possible without the support and cooperation of my fellow executive members and critical stakeholders in the local government. 

As we journey ahead, I am confident that we will achieve even more and continue to make the youth constituency proud. On behalf of the entire executives of NYCN in Ijebu North, I say a very big thank you to every individual who have been a pillar of support to this administration. I pray that God bless you all abundantly.  I would also like to use this medium to seek the support of all stakeholders, philanthropists and politicians of repute in our dear local government. In your little way, you can help in building the youths of Ijebu North through various programmes.

On a final note, I would like to register sincere appreciation to the immediate past executive chairman of our dear local government; Mr. ‘Bolaji Odusanya for his unflinching support to the youth council all through his stay in office. We identify his efforts and hold them in a very high esteem. Special thanks to an icon of the youth council in Ijebu North; Comrade Olawale Senbadejo for serving as a guiding light for successive administrations of the youth council in Ijebu North. May the Almighty Allah continue to bestow on you, the required wisdom and knowledge to lead successfully. To my predecessor; Comrade Ismail Ogunleye, I appreciate you for the successful transition of power and support at all times.

BUILD THE YOUTHS, BUILD THE NATION!