The National Youth Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Mr. Dayo Israel has announced efforts being made towards promoting ànd achieving greater participation of youths in the forthcoming general election slated for February 2023.
According to Israel, “We know that this is an election year and we took that challenge seriously so we had a commitment to ensure that we can increase number of young people according to our party constitution, 40 and below, who are running or participating in this election.
“As a result of that, we set up this high level working group that is composed of some of the best minds that this country has produced so far in the youth Sector.
He explained that the high level working group is composed of young people in very senior positions who are members of the APC.
The group is chaired by Engr. Ahmad Salihijo Ahmad the MD of the Rural Electrification Agency,while the co-chair is Mrs Solape Agagu Amod daughter of former governor of Ondo State and a special adviser to governor of Lagos State on Sustainable Development Goals ( SDGs) and the Secretary is Miss Moremi Ojodu.
Other members of the group include: Mr Wole Aboderin, Special Assistant to the President on NGO matters, Mrs Ginika Tor, a federal commissioner of the Federal Character Commission, Mr Hamza Special Adviser to the Speaker of the House of Representatives on Migration and IDP; Dr Ibrahim, President of the Nigerian Weight Lifting Federation; Mrs Amaka Lawrence, Mr Michael, Mr Zakari Ahmed who is the SA to the President on infrastructure and S.S Abubakar, the former APC youth leader.
The essence of setting up the group “is to use their influence, their capacity, their connection and access to be able to pave way for young people in public office”, he added.
Speaking further, he said “There are so many activities that we have introduced in the youth wing to ensure that we can begin to mainstream the voice of the young people and make sure that the Youths of this party are not taken for granted.
“You recall my speech at the Aso Villa in the presence of the first lady and governors and all aspirants that the Youths of our party will not be used to snatch ballot paper this time. We’re not going to be used to perpetrate Electoral violence in this election but we are going to get a seat at the table and we’re going to play critical role in this Electoral process and we’re going to produce members of the house of Representatives, deputy Governors, speakers of parliaments, members of the house of Representatives, members of Senate by the grace of the Almighty God.
“Our hope is that by the next administration of the APC will be totally different and our advocacy is to have 70% of the coming administration in appointments and cabinet for young people, either young men or young women.
What we have done is to begin to engage policy maker and lobby for positions directly from power brokers in the States including governors and other power brokers to ensure that we can increase the participation of young people.
He promised that his office will engage the presidential aspirants to know what they have for the youths of Nigeria.