The “Stand With Nigeria” campaigners (with campaign hash tag, #StandWith9ja and wishing to be officially known as Patriotic Alliance for National Development) on Tuesday, 31st of October had a formal lecture where roles of youths in leadership and governance were redefined. The event was well attended and reported on Radio Nigeria, Enugu National service on Frequency Modulation 92.9. Below is a very similar trans copy of the news report as filed by Edith Ajah;

A corps member serving in Enugu State, yesterday, Tuesday, 31st of October, launched a “Stand With Nigeria” Campaign, hash tagged “StandWith9ja” in the state.

The event with the theme; “Making of A New Nigeria: The Youth Agenda” was held at the Enugu North Local Government Secretariat’s City Hall with government officials and other dignitaries in attendance.

The corps member, Moshood Muhammed with the state code EN/16B/4959, it was learnt started the campaign as a personal Community Development Service effort until some of his colleagues adopted the ideology and joined the movement.

Speaking during the event, the Assistant Director, NYSC, Enugu State, Mr. Ernest Ebekine charged Nigerian youths to continue to work together for the development of the nation by ensuring they do the right thing at all time.

According to him, he was happy a corps member in the state could think of how to sensitize others to have the right thinking attitude, cause change so as to move Nigeria forward.

In his words, “I feel so glad that one of our corps member initiated this idea. This is a right step in the right direction because through this programme, a change will occur and our country, Nigeria, will move forward”.

The State Director of National Orientation Agency, Mr. Isaac Onukwube lauded the initiative and encouraged the corps members present to always present the country in good light.

He added that event as such should be embraced by many as it would help redirection of grievance registration by youths and other stakeholders in the country, rather than causing mayhems.

In his remark, a guest speaker at the occasion, the immediate past Commissioner for Human Capital Development and Poverty Reduction in Enugu state, Mr. Godwin Ogenyi maintained that youths should aim at making Nigeria better through their creative abilities.
While lauding the initiative of the corps member and his colleagues who put the programme together, the former commissioner charged them to equip themselves with necessary skills, and do away with the usual complaints about what is not good about the country.
He noted that opportunities only come to those who are prepared for it.

Mr. Ogenyi said; “What we are doing today is an idea of a young man, who has decided to redefine the kind of Nigeria we want to see, to consider those things we need to be able to do this. Obviously, he (Muhammed) has engaged his colleagues so they can collectively challenge the ills in the society. This is good”

Earlier in his welcome address, the founder initiative, Mr. Moshood Muhammed said the aim of the programme was to encourage patriotism among Nigerians, with special focus on the youth so as to unite and move the nation to a greater height.
He added that the inauguration of volunteers became necessary owing to the need to continue the campaign beyond his service year, noting that the same campaign is currently being mobilized for in Ogun State as well as other parts of Nigeria.

Explaining the rationale behind the project, Muhammed said; “this campaign started with a view to engage the youth so as to orientate and re-orientate citizens of the country, augment the patriotism of our people so that we can collectively move this country forward.

“The country, Nigeria, cannot move forward when we are not a part of it. There is a need for us as citizens to come on board, acts responsibly and ensure they put the country first in everything we do, because there is no leadership without followership”. He noted. -

Some members of the movement expressed satisfaction with success of the inauguration and extended an invitation to other youths to key into the vision of building a better nation for all. One of them, Justin Izuchukwu Okosa said; “I thank Mr. Moshood for bringing up the idea. The campaign targets the youths so we can engage the youths of the country on the need to be patriotic because when we (the youths) do the right thing, the country will move forward.”

Another participant, Kolade Tinuola, had this to say; “Most Nigerians have turned to western countries to pursue their dreams because they have lost interest. With this attitude, we would not be able to build the kind of country we seek. Everyone of us must be part of the nation building process; in Nigeria, my contemporaries should believe that we can make it and Nigeria will rise enviably. That is why we have started this campaign”

The event, which saw the inauguration of volunteers for the campaign had in attendance a member of Enugu state House of Assembly representing Ezeagwu State Constituency, Hon. Barrister Chima Obieze; Police Public Relations Officer, SP Ebere Amaraizu; Local Government Inspector of Enugu North, Mr. Maduforo Chinedu and senior officials of the NYSC in the state among others.