The ECOWAS Youth Council has urged the new Chairman of the Economic Community of West African States, Bola Tinubu, to make youth inclusion and development part of the sub-regional body’s agenda during his tenure.
The EYC hailed Tinubu, who is also Nigeria’s president, for declaring a commitment to ending coups, maintaining peace and security in West Africa, especially in Francophone countries as priority issues of the ECOWAS.
EYC said these steps if pursued effectively, would ensure stability, peace and unity in members countries.
The President of EYC, Dr Oluwaseun William, spoke in Abeokuta, during the investiture of Dr Babatunde Adeyemo as ECOWAS Youth Ambassador.
The event had in attendance renowned Neurosurgeon, Dr. Olusola Talabi, Permanent Secretary, Ogun State Bureau of Politics and Intergovernmental Affairs, Mr Kehinde Onasanya, and former lawmaker, Adekunle Adeyemi, among others.
William, who noted the place of youths in society, nation building and peace in the West African sub region, expressed the readiness of the youth council to engage Tinubu on how to ensure youth inclusion in the governance of ECOWAS.
Going forward, he said, the body was going to help young people to 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 positions.
He said, “The ECOWAS Chairman, Bola 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 we 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.
“Even without hearing his agenda, 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.”
Speaking in his acceptance speech, Adeyemo, emphasised the need to harness the potentials of Nigerian youths.
He said, “An average Nigerian youth have had their future 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 #EndSARS 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.”
He added that, “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, who is the Chief Executive Officer of Pelican Valley Nigeria Limited, also bagged the EYC’s Nelson Mandela Leadership for Excellence and Integrity Award at the event.
