BEING THE LECTURE DELIVERED BY COMRADE ABDULJABAR AYELAAGBE,THE CHAIRMAN,NATIONAL YOUTH COUNCIL OF NIGERIA(NYCN),OGUN STATE CHAPTER.

TOPIC: ROLE OF YOUTS IN NATION BUILDING,A PANACEA TO THE STATE GOVERNMENT PROJECTS ON YOUTH EMPOWERMENT,JOB CREATION CHALLENGES AMIDST COVID-19.


Distinguished platform members,

Good morning compatriots. My name, designation and probably abridged part of my profile was released by the Chief Admin.Simply Abdul-Jabar Ayelaagbe.

ABRIDGED PROFILE OF ABDUL-JABAR AYELAAGBE

Abdul-Jabar Ayelaagbe began his early education at Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat Arabic School, Lezlie, concurrently with western education at F. O. Ahmadiyya Pry School. His post primary education was at Anglican Grammar School, all in Ilaro and Area Community High School, Owode Yewa.

His penchant for advanced knowledge drove him to study Accountancy at the Federal Polytechnic, Ilaro; Studied Political Science at Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago Iwoye, Ogun State and Studied for Masters of Science degrees in Public Administration at National Open University of Nigeria, where he graduated in 2004, 2008 and 2016 respectively.

Ayelaagbe holds certifications, and by extension membership, of some reputable professional bodies in Nigeria among which is the Nigerian Institute of Management. He is presently at the preparatory stage for his Ph.d in Public Policy.

In his bid to give empirical manifestation to some of the theoretical knowledge acquired, Abdul-Jabar has served at different corporate environments at different times. He worked at CFAO Technologies, Victoria Island, Lagos; El-Tahir Ahmadiyya School, Ilaro; Ogun State Hospital Management Board; Jamia Ahmadiyya; Ahmadiyya Technical (now Science) College and NSCDC where he currently displays uncommon leadership virtues; ranging from resilience to self-motivation, hardwork, integrity, kindheartedness and humility. He also cut job at The Federal Polytechnic, Ilaro and West African Examination Council.

Abdul-Jabar is a youth advocate, a Youth Leader and a passionate community man of note. The opportunities and privileges of his several offices has accorded him the rare qualification to represent the Youth of Ogun State at many local, National and International policy formulation, implementation and events across the Nation and beyond.

Ayelaagbe is presently the Ogun State Chairman of the National Youth Council of Nigeria, the umbrella body for all youth organizations in Nigeria, established in 1964 and reinvigorated by the National Youth Policy of 2001, 2009 and 2019 as the, apex, authentic and authoritative mouthpiece of the Nigerian Youth including all Voluntary Uniform Youth Organizations, Faith Based Youth Organization, Youth Focused Groups and Community-Based Youth Organizations.

He is also the National Vice President (Southwest), Majlis Khuddam (Ahmadiyya Muslim Youth Organization), Nigeria

Amidst other religious and non-religious commitments and leadership representations, the love for services to humanity led Ayelaagbe to establish an Organization named Develop Nigeria Initiative - a body dedicated to philanthropy, youth education and empowerment with substantial records of achievement since its establishment.

Abdul-Jabar is happily married to Ni'motallah and the marriage is blessed with children.

In the formative years of United States of America, Britain was the only first and only industrialised country in the world. She hid the secrets of Industrial Revolution from the rest so that she could have an edge in the global market. A young American, Samuel Slater, the son of a commoner residing in England at the time, learnt and memorised these secrets and went back home to divulge them for his country. This was a time America was far behind Britain. By early 19th century, the brave and patriotic effort of young Slater narrowed the gap between England and America. This bravery and patriotism did not go unnoticed. He was appreciated and compensated. This compensation from the government encouraged and motivated other youths in other spheres of life to take project of nation-building as a collective responsibility and thus, the proud USA that we glorify today.


The greatness of USA and many other Nations of the World has intrinsic link and contributions of youth and thus makes the topic of discussion this afternoon, the Role of Youth in Nation building a panacea to Ogun state government projects on youth empowerment and job creation challenges amidst COVID 19 apt and instructive given the changing narratives in several parts of the world where destinies of Nations are being trusted in the hands of younger generations with appreciable results. Youth are the foundation of a society; their energies, inventiveness, character and orientation define the pace of development and security of a nation. Through their creative talents and labour power, a nation makes giant stories in economic development and socio-political attainments. In their dreams and hopes, a nation founds her motivation, on their energies; She builds her vitality and purpose. The future of a Nation is assured because of their dreams and aspiration. Youths are the building blocks of every developed Nation. They are the cornerstone of sustainable development and greatest possession for Nation building and/or National Development. The stronger the youth of a State or country, the more developed that State or country.


Nigerian State developments have not been as it ought to have been largely because combinations of factors. One of which, which is in tune with the subject of discussion this afternoon, is the lips services play on youth developments by successive leadership at virtually all cadres of our National leadership as a Country. If States of Nigeria and indeed Nigerian states is to get things rights, we need to refocus our attention to developments of our youth population.


The National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN) was established in 1964 and reinvigorated by the National Youth Policy of 3rd February, 2001, that of 2009 and 2019 as the umbrella body, apex, authentic and authoritative mouthpiece for the Nigerian youth (including all Voluntary Uniform Youth Organizations, Faith Based Youth Organizations, Community Based Youth Organizations and Youth Focused Groups with Chapters and Branches in all States and Local governments in Nigeria. For the purpose of coordinating young people towards global standards in the realization of their full potentials, dreams and aspirations, and being responsible to themselves and contributing positively to the development of their communities and the Nation at large.


*National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN)* represents the youth of Nigeria at International Youth bodies such as the World Assembly of Youth, Commonwealth Youth Council, Pan- African Youth Union and many more. The Youth Council carries out extensive responsibilities which includes but not limited to the followings;

Serving as link between the government and the youth constituency.

Meaningful representation of youths in decision making process at all levels.

Creating opportunities for the development of young people in the sphere of academics, sports, vocational, and career guidance.

Provide opportunities for leading, training through organized conferences, workshops, cross fertilizations of ideas locally and internationally.

Active mobilization of youth for social and developmental activities at all levels of government.

Serve as leadership training ground for youth.

Serves as meeting point for youth of different religious, ethnic and social background.


Unfortunately, the concept youth, like all other social concepts are victim of definitional pluralism. Scholars and relevant stakeholders in youth affairs do not have a uniform opinion on who a youth is. This may not be unconnected with a Scholar postulation that "every thinkers even the most abstract one will be deeply affected by prevailing socioeconomic conditions of his days. To Wiki, a youth is a young person who has not yet reached adulthood and refers to the time period before you become an adult. Youth is the time of life when one is young, and often means the time between childhood and adulthood. It is a period between childhood and adulthood or a period of transition between childhood to adulthood.


United Nations adopts 15 to 24. African Youth Charter adopts 15 to 35. Nigeria National Youth Policy adopts 15 to 29.


As at the moment in Ogun State we have 43 Organizations while if we must count those affiliates to the Youth Council at the local government levels in Ogun State. We may have up to 1,347 Youth Organizations that are affiliate to NYCN OGUN STATE including our local government branches accross the 20 local government areas of the State. The Organization that are allowed to affiliate to the Youth Council at the state level are Youth Organizations whose strength cut across ⅔ of the local government areas in Ogun State.


At the State level, only Organization that affiliates are organizations which have real existence in the ⅔ of the 20 local government

For instance

Of the listed 43 Youth organization listed at the state level are

1. The Boys Brigade

2. The Girls Brigade

3. Majlis Khuddamul Ahmadiyya of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat

4. The Royal Ambassadors of the Nigerian Baptist Church

5. Catholic Youth Organizations of the Catholic Church

6. African Church Youth Association of African Church

7. Man O War

8. Ansarudeen Youth Association of Nigeria

9. Youth wing of the Nigerian Red Cross Society

Among many others. We have Itori Youth Development association in Ewekoro local government,

we have Owode Yewa Youth Forum in Yewa South local government,

We have Iperu Youth in Ikenne local government.
I just pick one community Youth in each of the senatorial Districts of Ogun State. I do not think there is any local government where the youth Associations there is less than 100.


The youth groups in the local government affiliate to the Council in their local government of operations and through there they participate in the bigger body at the state, having the opportunity to meet with, change notes with Youth of different communities and local government at the state level. They use their local government banner to benefit from the States,while we all use the National body platform to benefits from the National goodies and also use it to tap into opportunities beyond the shores of Nigeria,West Africa and the entire world.

Membership of NYCN in Ogun State runs into tens of thousands in all local government areas of the State.


Ogun State is known for not only being first in everything good but we are always the best in many things.

As a council we have our online platform where youth of Ogun State register https://www.nycnogun.ng/register.php

More information about the Youth Council can be gotten via our website www.nycnogun.ng or mail us via info@nycnogun.ng



Thank you Sir.