Photo Caption: (Middle) State Chairman of NYCN – Engr. Ibrahim Adigun Olalekan MNSE; Next to the right – Comr. Asoro Abubakri Olatunji ACArb, Vice Chairman Lagos East; Flanked on the left by Comr. Olonitola Caleb, Bariga Coordinator, followed by Amb. Olaide Lateef, Organising Secretary Lagos East.
The National Youth Policy and Lagos State Youth Policy recognize the National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN) as the umbrella body for all youth organizations in Nigeria. In Lagos State, it maintains 57 local branches and 53 affiliate organizations. According to its constitution, the senatorial district supervises the activities of its local branches and affiliate organizations. The district is headed by the Vice Chairman, assisted by the Organising Secretary. A new leadership was inaugurated on July 4, 2024, with Comr. Asoro Abubakri Olatunji ACArb as Vice Chairman and Amb. Olaide Lateef as Organising Secretary. As the administration marks 100 days in office, it reviews its activities and those of the voluntary organizations and local branches under its supervision, forming a performance index for the past hundred days.
Ikorodu West tops the list of best-performing local branches in this period. The branch facilitated seven employment opportunities for youth in Ikorodu West in August 2024, organized a World Youth Vocational Skill Training on Resin Art and Crafts for about 20 youths on July 15, 2024, and hosted a Youth Leadership Workshop/Retreat on August 17-18, 2024. Additionally, they provided free GCE forms for 30 indigent residents on August 9-20, conducted a community sanitation exercise by clearing bush along the major constructed road in Isawo Community on August 24, 2024, and donated a description board to Anglican Primary School Ishawo on September 5, 2024. Other activities included a friendly match between voluntary organizations to promote peace at Konu Playground on August 11, 2024, a three-day vocational skill acquisition training on September 2-4, 2024, and a second batch of four-day free vocational skill training on tailoring, makeup, gele, cake decoration, and more at Isawo Konu on September 7, 14, 21, and 28, 2024.
Following Ikorodu West is Epe Local Branch, which engaged in skill acquisition training for petrol jelly, wall sockets, and more to commemorate World Skills Day on July 14, 2024. The branch held a management meeting and a fitness exercise on the same day to promote wellness and healthy living. Its press conference on July 31, 2024, significantly contributed to the relative peace in Epe during the anti-bad governance protests. The local branch has also actively campaigned for stable power supply in Epe and its environs by uniting critical stakeholders. During this review period, it organized fashion design training for 28 youths on Omojele Street Epe on August 16, 2024, hosted indoor games at Epe Recreational Centre on August 18, 2024, and conducted a live webinar to commemorate International Youth Day on August 19, 2024, among other impactful activities.
Bariga closely follows Epe in performance. On July 24, 2024, the new leadership for Bariga Local Branch was inaugurated, immediately launching into action with an advocacy interactive session against violent protests, a sanitation exercise to commemorate International Youth Day on August 16, 2024, and a novelty match to promote peace and unity among young people in Bariga on August 17, 2024. The branch also organized a sensitization program on digital skills on August 18, 2024, a community outreach at CMS Compound Bariga on August 19, 2024, and a world cleanup exercise in collaboration with partners to clean up Ekinmogun Community in commemoration of World Cleanup Day, among other initiatives.