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Dokubo Calls on Nigerian Youths to Support Tinubu, NYCN Decries Rising Banditry and Kidnapping
Joel Ajayi
The Amanyanabo of Elem Kalabari, Alh. Mujahid Asari-Dokubo has urged Nigerian youths to support President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and give his administration more time to deliver on its development agenda.
King Asari – Dokubo made the remarks recently when he hosted the leadership of the National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN) at his palace in Elem, Port Harcourt, ahead of the council’s National Thanksgiving Service at Salvation Ministries, Port Harcourt.
The event was organised to celebrate recent achievements, including various programmes and court judgments that helped resolve the NYCN crisis.
He noted that, in many parts of the world, retaining an incumbent political leadership is often more beneficial to a nation than experimenting with a new administration.
The Amanyanabo of Elem Kalabari stated, “I want to call on Nigerian youths and the executive to stand on the right side of history by supporting President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. In many countries, leadership that is allowed to continue often produces more results than leadership that is abruptly terminated.
“When you meet Mr President, he will tell you to give him more time. He will say, ‘We are in a real mess; just give me more time, and in a short while, you will begin to see development.’
“For now, you may not be able to see all the laudable work this administration is doing, but after a while, the results will become evident.”
In his remarks shortly after the National Thanksgiving Service, NYCN President, Amb. Sukubo Sara-Igbe, condemned banditry, kidnapping and other forms of social vices in the country.
Sukubo expressed concern that the growing insecurity, largely perpetrated by misguided youths, had continued to damage Nigeria’s image in the international community, contributing to the country’s designation by the United States as a “Country of Particular Concern.”
He vowed that the National Youth Council of Nigeria would collaborate with the Federal Government to tackle the wave of insecurity ravaging the country, stressing that the council would not sit idly by and allow the situation to deteriorate further.
NYCN President stated, “Our advice to Nigerian youths is that they should not take the law into their own hands. We are also appealing to our brothers who are involved in banditry, kidnapping and other social vices to desist from such acts. Nigeria belongs to all of us, and we all have a stake in the development of this country, even though their actions are not what we, as youths, encourage or support.
“We condemn every action by young people in this great country who take the law into their own hands or engage in banditry and kidnapping. That is not the dream of the Nigerian youth constituency. Therefore, we call on our brothers involved in these kinds of vices to desist from them.
“They may not see us coming after them, but if they continue to target and harm our young people across the country, we will have no option but to join forces with the Nigerian government and security agencies to identify and apprehend those perpetrating these unlawful acts in our land.
“Such activities do not give our country the positive image it deserves at the global level. We have seen Nigeria being designated as a Country of Particular Concern because of the actions of a few individuals who have chosen to take the law into their own hands. That is not our dream, and it is certainly not something that the umbrella body of Nigerian youths will support.”
NYCN Deputy President, Amb. Innocent Nduanya, said the council would engage security agencies and the Federal Government in addressing insecurity, adding that it had developed a blueprint to tackle the menace, alongside programmes aimed at improving the lives of Nigerian youths.
Nduanya said the council was committed to the welfare and development of youths in a united Nigeria, stressing that banditry and other social vices had continued to pose serious challenges to the country.
He also urged Nigerian youths not to allow politicians to manipulate or exploit them for political purposes, calling on them to channel their energy towards promoting peace, unity, development and national progress.
NYCN Deputy President stated, “One of the key objectives we intend to pursue is to engage with Nigerian security agencies and the Federal Government on the issue of insecurity. We have developed a blueprint that will be unveiled soon, and we also have life-changing programmes aimed at improving the lives of Nigerian youths.
“In addition, we have global partners who will collaborate with the National Youth Council of Nigeria to ensure that the youths of this country are adequately empowered.
“As he mentioned, banditry and other social vices have continued to bedevil our nation. What I want to emphasise is that the Council is committed to the welfare and development of the youths of a united Nigeria. We are not interested in a disunited Nigeria.
“I also want to use this opportunity to call on Nigerian youths who are being used by politicians to desist from allowing themselves to be manipulated or exploited for political purposes. The youths should instead channel their energy towards activities that promote peace, unity, development and the progress of our country.”
News
NTAC Celebrates Seven Returnees, Applauds Contributions to Uganda’s Academic Sector
By Joel Ajayi
The Nigerian Technical Aid Corps (NTAC) has welcomed seven Nigerian volunteers who successfully completed their two-year assignments at Makerere University, Uganda, commending their dedication, professionalism and contributions to academic development and international cooperation.
The volunteers were received on Monday, November 2, 2026, during a debriefing exercise held at the NTAC Complex in Abuja, where they shared their experiences, achievements and challenges during their service under the Federal Government’s Technical Aid Corps Scheme.
In a statement issued by the Head of Information and Public Relations, NTAC, Ojo Adetoun Olubunmi, the exercise was designed to assess the volunteers’ performance, review their experiences and explore ways of translating the knowledge and expertise acquired abroad into meaningful contributions to their respective institutions and Nigeria.
Speaking on behalf of the Director-General and Chief Executive Officer of NTAC, Rt. Hon. Yusuf Buba Yakub, the Assistant Director, Programme 11, Mr Felix Obidi, congratulated the returnees on the successful completion of their assignments.
Obidi commended their commitment, professional conduct and exemplary service, noting that their contributions had helped project Nigeria positively in the international community.
Describing the returnees as veterans of the Technical Aid Corps Scheme, he urged them to deploy the knowledge, skills and international exposure acquired at Makerere University to improve their institutions and contribute to national development.
He likened their international experience to that of fishes that had explored wider waters, stressing that their exposure should distinguish them professionally and intellectually.
“You are no longer just returning volunteers; you are veterans of the Nigerian Technical Aid Corps. We expect you to bring back the knowledge and experience you have acquired at Makerere University and share them with your respective institutions. You are foreign fishes, and we expect more from you,” he said.
Obidi assured the volunteers that their expertise would continue to be valuable to NTAC and the country, while appreciating President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his sustained support for the Scheme.
He also acknowledged the contributions of the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, and the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Sola Enikanolaiye, towards sustaining the programme.
Similarly, the representative of the Director of Programmes, Senior Counsellor Mrs Hauwa Arabu Mustafa, congratulated the returnees and commended their contributions to academic development and the promotion of South-South cooperation.
Speaking on behalf of the returning volunteers, their team leader, Prof. Abdul Anakobe Isah, expressed gratitude to the Federal Government and NTAC for providing them with the opportunity to serve at Makerere University.
He described the assignment as a rewarding professional experience and praised the university’s management and staff for their hospitality, cooperation, professional support and provision of adequate teaching and learning facilities.
However, he identified some accommodation-related challenges encountered during their two-year assignment.
One of the returning volunteers, Prof. Alo Oluwaseun Olubisi, highlighted her achievements, including securing a Research and Innovation Grant at Makerere University.
She explained that although she initially doubted her eligibility because she was a Nigerian, encouragement from her Head of Department prompted her to apply, eventually leading to a successful grant award.
Olubisi said the assignment significantly improved her teaching methodologies, lecture preparation and delivery while providing opportunities for professional development and research collaboration.
She also disclosed that she facilitated a Memorandum of Understanding between Makerere University and her home institution in Nigeria, noting that the partnership had reached an advanced stage.
The debriefing provided an opportunity for the returning volunteers to present their experiences, achievements, challenges and recommendations, which NTAC said would serve as valuable input towards improving the implementation of the Technical Aid Corps Scheme.
The event also featured the presentation of certificates of service to the returning volunteers in recognition of their successful completion of the assignment.
Established in 1987, the Nigerian Technical Aid Corps is a key instrument of Nigeria’s foreign policy and South-South cooperation, deploying skilled Nigerian professionals to countries across Africa, the Caribbean and the Pacific to provide technical assistance, promote knowledge exchange and strengthen international partnerships.
With more than 10,000 Nigerian professionals deployed to beneficiary countries over the years, the Scheme continues to demonstrate Nigeria’s commitment to human capital development, international cooperation and the use of professional expertise as an instrument of development diplomacy.
The successful completion of the Makerere University assignment by the seven volunteers further underscores the importance of the Scheme in fostering professional exchange, strengthening institutional partnerships and ensuring that international exposure translates into tangible benefits for Nigeria’s development.
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