Lagos raises transition panel as youth council ends 12-year rift

The Lagos State government has warned members of the National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN) to shun violence during its forthcoming election, and not see it as a do-or-die affair. Commissioner for Youth and Social Development, Segun Dawodu, spoke yesterday in Alausa, Ikeja, while inaugurating the Transition Committee of the NYCN, Lagos State branch, saying the seven-man committee must discharge their duties and responsibilities without bias or favour.

Members of the committee are Kayode Odunuga, Ismail Odulana, Gbadebo Taofik, Olayinka Oresile, Ogunsola Gbenga, Otunba Adebisi Kodus and R.L. Lawal. Speaking on behalf of the committee, Ismail Odulana said the council had been in crisis for over 12 years and that members had learnt useful lessons.

Noting that the council is the umbrella body of all youth organisations in the state, the commissioner charged the body to organise character-moulding programmes and activities for the benefit of youths in Lagos. According to him, there was an urgent need to do a self-appraisal of the current state of the council and develop strategies that would improve their relevance within the context of modern realities.

Commending the council for resolving its 12-year-old crisis, Dawodu said the choice of using dialogue as opposed to resorting to violence, to resolve their differences for the common good, growth and development of the council, was a great act, which could not have come at a better time than now. He added that the Ministry had concluded plans to develop a comprehensive drug programme aimed at fight drug abuse among youths, which had become very rampant in society. 

Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Youth and Social Development, Yewande Falugba, said the ministry was informed by the different factions that on common ground, they had resolved the crisis in order to achieve their desired goals.

She urged the leadership of the council to ensure that peace reigned among the various stakeholders and youth organisation in the state.