The State Chairman of National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN) Cross River State chapter, His Youthfulness Comrade Emmanuel Olayi has stated that the National Youth council of Nigeria (NYCN) is an umbrella youth body, therefore every youth organization operating in the State has to be registered and properly affiliated with the council for the purpose of authenticity and synchronization of operations and their activities which must be in consonance with the ethics of the Council and the Ministry of Youth Development.
He added that the Council is not an arm of government or political party but partners with government for peace building and general development, thus the council should be a safe space for youth not minding their leanings so as to enable them channel their concerns freely and be attended to accordingly.
Comrade Olayi made the statement during the first state executive council meeting of year 2025 held at the administrative block at the Cross River State Youth House in Calabar, where he welcomed the executive back from the festivities of 2024 and expressed optimism towards the Council’s commendable progress that would be recorded in 2025. He charged Exco members to be steadfast, innovative and bring forth inspiring ideas and do things rightfully to enable the achievement of the councils projections for 2025.
The State Chairman listed out the achievements of the council in 2024 to include; a free medical outreach, campaign against the End Bad Governance Protest with the tag “Dialogue over Protest”, Cross River State active participation in various National Youth Engagements, some of which he listed to include; participation in the Review of The National Youth Policy (2018-2023), attendance of Cross River youth delegates at NYCN at 60 years, payment of subvention to all structures of the Council, participation in the 7th National Council of Youth Development meeting at Maiduguri, Borno State, training of Youths in various agricultural value chain, Christmas and new year package to youth organizations, stakeholders and related groups across the state.
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The Chairman emphasized that the Council must work in line with the proposed work plan for the calendar year 2025. He went further to inform Exco about his concerted effort to give Cross River State Youth House a facelift through modern structural development, installation of electricity, reticulation of water into the Youth House, rewiring and reconnection of power supply, general painting of interior and exterior views, erection of signage at the high way among many others.
The Chairman requested for performance reports from across the three senatorial districts of the state and called upon the Vice Chairman North, Vice Chairman Central and Vice Chairman South to brief the forum respectively.
The NYCN Vice Chairman of Northern Senatorial District, Comr. Patrick wonah uttered that despite just resuming office immediately after conduct of elections, he engaged the youths of Cross River North in dialogue against participating in the End Bad Governance protest, embarked on a youth sensitization rally against youth restiveness and community crisis, while Comr. Evalsam Ekpe, VC Central Senatorial District mentioned their engagement in NYCN tour across the six local government areas of the central where they interfaced with several youths, traditional leaders, members of the state and National Assembly who had meaningful and fruitful conversations with them. Comr. Evalsam Ekpe also informed his colleagues of the recent leadership crisis in one of the six local government areas in the central due to the discovery of deposits of resources of interest in one of the communities and called for immediate intervention from the State Chairman, adding that with proper intervention from the state executive, lasting peace will return.
The Secretary General Hon. Prince Ojoi who spoke for the Southern Senatorial District, assured the house of peace and security in the southern senatorial district while expressing appreciation to the State Government for opening the doors of opportunities for youths who today are in different positions of leadership.
The Chairman who applauded the Vice Chairmen for being proactive in their senatorial districts, said that the discovery of resources of value across the state is an indication of the wealth in Cross River State. He further reiterated that it is good news for the youths of Cross River and Government, as the state is blessed with abundant natural resources with Akamkpa local government area also having large deposit of solid mineral, therefore the council would embark on a visit to the ministry of solid mineral for progressive collaboration that will benefit the youths.
Addressing the executive council members as regards the forthcoming NYCN local government election, HY Comr. Olayi said the state executive council is an arm of council structured for decision making to flow collectively. He advised the Exco members to provide equal platform for participation of every youth in the elections, make the election affordable, rancour free and fair as the election is meant to recruit leaders that will join for peace building and progressive thinking for the Council.
The State Chairman reeled out the activities for the 2025 calendar year and announced the plans for the official unveiling of the year’s work plan.
He further expressed appreciation to the Governor, His Excellency Senator Prince Bassey Edet Otu and his dear Wife Her Excellency Bishop Eyoanwan Otu for their continuous support to the youth community. He equally appreciated the Hon. Commissioner for Youth Development and his team of management staff for their relentless efforts in youth development.
The Chairman concluded with a charge on the state executive council members to make the council conducive for every youth to access and be part of and also launch out to seek opportunities that will grow the youth of Cross River State while thanking them for their sacrifice of service.
The meeting which was presided over by the Cross River NYCN Chairman HY Comr. Emmanuel Olayi was attended by the vice chairmen of the three senatorial districts and all state executives of the council.
