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Minister To Revive Abandoned Youth Centres

Published

5 years ago

October 29, 2020

Joel Ajayi

As part of efforts to empower Nigerian Youth, plans have been concluded for the revival of abandoned youth development centres across the country.

Minister of Youth and Sports Development Mr Sunday Dare who paid a surprise visit to the abandoned youth development centre at Onla village in Ibadan on Tuesday promised to turn the centre into a wealth creator for the empowerment of youths.

“Our youths must be encouraged to become employers of labour and entrepreneurs. This place would be revived and turned into a training centre and farm settlement for youths interested in farming. They will be supported by loans and tractors so that they can be productive”

Mr Dare lamented that despite the government’s huge investment in youth development centres across the country, most of them were abandoned due to lack of continuity and paucity of funds.

“Government invested heavily in setting up these youth development centres in all parts of the country, sadly most of them was abandoned due to lack of continuity and paucity of funds.

Once there is a change in the representation of the member championing it as the constituency project, the centres are abandoned and left to rot away. This would no longer be tolerated. We would bring most of these facilities back for the benefit of our youth and the communities where they are located”

The Onla village youth development centre which started in 2013 as a Ministry of Youth and Sports Development project has been turned into a farm settlement with overgrown weeds.

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NCYC Urges Tinubu to Choose Christian Running Mate for 2027

Published

5 hours ago

May 13, 2025

The Gleamer

As political momentum gathers ahead of the 2027 general elections, the North Central Youth Council (NCYC) has called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to select a Christian as his running mate in the next presidential race. The group says such a move would reflect Nigeria’s religious diversity and promote national unity.

In a statement signed by its President, Sunday A. Asuku, the NCYC described the Muslim-Muslim ticket used in the 2023 election—pairing Tinubu with Vice President Kashim Shettima—as a controversial break from Nigeria’s long-standing tradition of religious balancing in top political offices.

The council warned that repeating the same formula in 2027 could deepen existing divisions and alienate large segments of the population.
“Choosing a Christian vice-presidential candidate is not just symbolic—it is a strategic, ethical, and unifying necessity,” Asuku stated.

“Nigeria is a multi-religious nation. Ignoring that fact undermines the foundation of our democracy.”

The NCYC argued that Tinubu’s 2023 victory, while decisive, was marked by weak performance in Christian-majority regions and drew criticism from religious bodies and civil society organizations.

Addressing this imbalance, the group said, would help rebuild public trust and improve Tinubu’s chances in the next election.

“Competent Christian leaders can be found across the country—from the South-East to the Middle Belt. Including them in national leadership would not only demonstrate fairness but also foster national cohesion,” Asuku added.

The group concluded by urging Tinubu to seize the moment and demonstrate true statesmanship.
“The 2027 elections will test Nigeria’s commitment to unity,” the statement read.

“This is a historic opportunity for President Tinubu to lead with inclusiveness and leave a lasting legacy.”

The NCYC’s appeal comes amid growing public discourse on equity, representation, and the future of leadership in Nigeria.
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