The Youth Engagement and Inclusion Agenda committee in its first inaugural meeting held at the office of the Lagos All Progressives Congress (APC) Youth Secretary, Mr Idris Aregbe said youths must be ready to participate in political activities in the head of the 2023 General elections.
The meeting was held to discuss plans and future of the committee in regards to making youths a core participant in the country’s political activities, most importantly the forthcoming 2023 general Elections.
Recall that the committee was set up recently by Mr Idris Aregbe comprising 19 committee members cutting across different youths in the state, including the senior special adviser on youths development to the Lagos state Governor, Akanbi saheed.
The convener of the committee, Idris Aregbe, during the meeting noted that the committee was set up to savage the present state of the country and to save the lives of generations. He emphasized on the importance of youths inclusion and engagement now and during the 2023 general election.
“It is about saving the lives of generations. When we look at security, we think we are okay, more reason why we have to channel our energy as youths into growing the country. It is about numbers, we have the numbers, if we use our numbers well, we will achieve our goals.”
“Youths need to be more involved in political activities. This is a solution to the various challenges that have befalling the country. We must ensure that we sensitize the youths to be actively involved in the decision making of the country and this can only be achieved through political participation” he said
Also a member of the committee, Mr Joseph Odesanya, said youths have been relegated to the lowest and changing the narrative is difficult but actualizable.
“There’s a collapse of the value system, the youths have been relegated to the background. The leadership has failed, if you want to change the narrative, it’s a big task but not insurmountable”
“Within the system, there’s a uniqueness in Lagos state, one man has created an ideology that has included the youths and this idea does not exist at the upper level. If we intend to push the truth, there must be commonness. We must be able to negotiate with our strength, our numbers” he said
Funso Rasheed, a member of the committee, called for negotiation between the Youths and present leaders. He stressed the need for youths to be included in the decision making of the country.
“This committee is not set up to push the ideology that an older generation shouldn’t be president. We need to negotiate with them so that everybody can be included in governance. The youths need to be included in the decision making of the country because we have potentials”
The Committee Members enjoined youths to register for their voters card and participate actively in political activities in their respective communities.