Make youth inclusion, development parts of ECOWAS agenda – ECOWAS Youth Council urges Tinubu

…As Realtor Adeyemo becomes ECOWAS Youth Ambassador, wins Nelson Mandela Leadership Excellence Award

Ernest Nwokolo, Abeokuta

The ECOWAS Youth Council(EYC) on Thursday urged the new chairman of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), Bola Ahmed Tinubu, to make youth inclusion and development parts of the sub-regional body’s agenda in this his tenure.

The EYC which hailed Tinubu who doubles as the elected President of Nigeria for making ending coup, maintaining peace and security in West Africa, especially in the francophone countries a priority issues of the ECOWAS, said these steps if pursued effectively would ensure stability, peace and unity in members’ countries.

The President of EYC, Amb. (Dr.) Oluwaseun William, made this known at The Podium, Pelican Valley Estate Laderin – Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, during the investiture of Dr. Babatunde Adeyemo as ECOWAS Youth Ambassador at a ceremony that had in attendance, renowned Neurosurgeon, Dr. Olusola Talabi, Permanent Secretary, Ogun State Bureau of Politics and Intergovernmental Affairs, Mr. Kehinde Onasanya, former federal lawmaker, Hon. Adekunle Adeyemi, Chief Olawale Olaleye among others.

Adeyemo, a foremost realtor and CEO of Pelican Valley Nigeria Limited, also bagged the EYC’s Nelson Mandela Leadership for Excellence and Integrity Award at the occasion.

Dr. William who noted the place of youth in a society, nation building and peace in West African subregion, expressed the readiness of the youth organisation to engage President Tinubu on how to bring about youth inclusion in the governance of ECOWAS.

He added that going forward, the body is going to help the youth participate in politics, economic development, regional integration and education as part of measures to push the youth up the ladder of leadership and decision – making position.

He said, “The ECOWAS Chairman, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who doubles as the President of Nigeria has made stopping coup and maintaining peace and security in West African subregion, most especially in the francophone countries, as top items on his agenda and we are waiting and we want to see the agenda of Mr. Chairman as regard youth inclusion because this is where and area who would be able to engage the ECOWAS Chairman and the Commission on how they want to be decisive in ensuring the growth of young people in West Africa.

“And of course even without hearing his agenda in place, we are putting some ideas in place to engage the appropriate quarters that link to Mr President to see how we can bring youth inclusion in the governance of ECOWAS itself and how we are going to help the youth participate in politics, economic development, regional integration and education,” he said.

Speaking in his acceptance speech, Dr. Babatunde Adeyemo emphasized the need to harness the potentials of Nigerian youths, saying this informed why his firm embarked upon 100% youth workforce policy, launched several youths entrepreneurial development and self reliance campaigns to secondary schools in the country, in a bid to catch them young and awaken their sleeping entrepreneurial skills for future exploits.

“An average Nigerian youth have had their future being stolen and looted, hence the need for our new Government of the day to make a drastic effort to reconcile the huge margin between the young and the old Nigerians in governance.

“The aborted end SARS protest in Lagos, is a very strong expression of grievance by the Nigerian youths, that should not be overlooked by any serious nation or government. Yes, the Nigerian numerous economic challenges cannot be corrected overnight, but an average Nigerian youth, need to start to have the sense of belonging, from the appointments of the President. Only the youths can guarantee an effective and efficient delivery of the Nigerian future.

“Research has it that the current life expectancy for Nigeria in 2023 is 55.75 years, when you compare this with ages of our leaders, we will all agree that the nation needs a drastic injection of decent youths in governance.

“These youths, if properly selected, can always be used as frontline or veritable agent of bargaining powers for government, whenever revolt raises its head and also to guarantee quality and energy – filled governance,” Adeyemo said.