Get Guardian on GoogleInaugurates Lagos executives, plans campaign against fake products
The Nigerian Youth Congress (NYC), Lagos State chapter, has urged Nigerian youths to scrutinise the manifestos of political leaders ahead of the forthcoming elections and assess their commitment to youths’ development.
It, however, stressed that only candidates whose policies and programmes prioritise youth development and address the challenges confronting young people should be allowed to serve.
The newly elected Lagos State Chairman of the NYC, Alimi Adebowale, who gave the advice yesterday during the inauguration of the State Executive Council of the NYC in Amuwo-Odofin, urged the youths to take active interest in the political processes, noting that their failure to participate risks drawing the country backwards.
According to him, youths have a responsibility to determine the kind of leadership they want by evaluating the policies and programmes of those seeking political offices.
“We are in the time of politics, in a time where leaders of the next dispensation are about to be chosen. So, as young people, it is our concern to know who these leaders are and what they have in stock for young people in terms of youth development and engagement,” he said.
Adebowale emphasised that youths should not become objects for politicians to be used for their interests, stressing the importance of examining their manifestos to make informed choices.
In his remarks, President of the NYC, Jethro Annum, urged the youths to consider themselves as critical to the forthcoming election, warning them that the decision they take now will have consequences on the trajectory the country is going to follow in the next four years.
He noted that the NYC had remained a critical organisation in championing the interests of young people, citing its contributions to youth development and empowerment.
He, however, disclosed that, as part of its efforts to support young Nigerians, the organisation had registered 10,000 youths across the country under the Federal Government’s Three Million Technical Talent (3MTT) programme.
Similarly, the APC’s candidate for the Lagos State House of Assembly seat to represent Amuwo-Odofin Constituency I in the upcoming election, Ola Folorunsho Olaitan, cautioned youths against engaging in blackmail, exchanging insults on social media and spreading fake news, as well as using Artificial Intelligence (AI) to create misleading content capable of damaging people’s reputations.
He urged them to verify information before sharing it, emphasising the need to ensure that messages circulated on social media are authentic.
MEANWHILE, stakeholders in the security sector and youth development have pledged to join forces to tackle cultism, drug abuse, unemployment and other social vices in Lagos State.
They also announced plans to organise a state-wide sensitisation walk against fake food products, drugs and alcoholic drinks, saying that the circulation and consumption of substandard products are claiming the lives of young Nigerians.
The resolutions were made yesterday in FESTAC Town, Amuwo-Odofin, Lagos, during the inauguration of the newly elected executives of the Lagos State chapter of the NYC and its leadership and training summit.
The newly inaugurated leadership of the Congress pledged to address unemployment, insecurity, poor road infrastructure, cultism and the circulation of fake drugs, while promoting youth participation in governance.
