President of National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN), Comrade Murtala Mohammed Gamji is not happy that the position of National Youth Leader of most of the political parties are being occupied by people who are above 40 years. In this interview with ABDULRAHMAN ZAKARIYAU and TOPE SUNDAY, he spoke on the council’s plans to see that a youth succeeds President Muhammadu Buhari after his tenure.
In Nigeria, just about anyone who has a youthful face calls himself a youth. Is there a universal age range that qualifies one to be known as a youth?
Youths are people or an individual within the age grade of 18 years to 35 years old. But due the economic considerations and some other factors, some people in the age grade of 40 years old are sometimes considered in some Africa countries as youths. Anybody above 40 years old that is parading his or herself as a youth is probably doing so for reasons best known to him or her.
There are instances in Nigeria where people above 40 years occupy positions that are meant for youths. In particular, National Youth Leaders of most political parties are above 35 years. What are you doing to address the marginalization of youths as it were ?
Since we came on board last year, we have put plans in place to checkmate things like this. We have met with some stakeholders in the country, politicians from all major political parties to ensure that any position meant for youths are not occupied by individuals that have past the youthful age, as stated earlier. And they have all agreed with us. The National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN) has also embarked on sensitization of its members across the country to vie for the office of youth leaders of any political party if it becomes vacant or whenever the post is available. So, the youth leaders from local to state and federal government levels, political parties and other youth organizations must be vibrant youths that will represent their peers. It will no longer be business as usual, no more time for 50 years and above to come and be claiming to be youths.
Is the National Youth Council of Nigeria a self sustaining organization? How do you get funds to run your programmes?
The National Youth Council of Nigeria is an organization set up and even recognized by government at all levels as the most supreme organ of Nigerian youths. NYCN is the mother of all youth-oriented organizations.
So by law and even standard, it is an organization that is supposed to be sponsored by the federal government of Nigeria. But, because of the excesses of some past leaders of the council, the much needed support is not as it is supposed to be. In line with this, the incumbent Minister of Youth and Sport, Barrister Solomon Dalong has assured the council of the total support of the ministry. But it is an important association that attends to the plight of Nigerian youths; right now, we as its members are financing it on our own.
This is because at NYCN, we are not just members without jobs, most of us are professionals; amongst us are lawyers, doctors, lecturers, journalists, and artisans among others.
What are you doing about the alarming rate of youth unemployment in Nigeria?
Since the inception of this current administration of youth council, we have started sensitizing the Nigerian youth to think of how to become employers of labour, rather than employees. They have to be self reliant, creative and they should have an entrepreneurial mindset.
The civil service cannot accommodate all of us; few will be civil servants, some will be self employed and others will be engaged by private sector. They must also be productive in whatever they do. If the government provides the enabling environment for the youth, the unemployment rate will definitely reduce.
Vices like drug abuse and various juvenile delinquencies are now very prevalent amongst youths. In what way can the council help tackle these societal problems?
On our part, we are collaborating with relevant agencies like National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) and other concerned agencies to help curb this menace that is rampaging the country.
Aside collaboration, we also use our various platforms to preach about peaceful coexistence irrespective of difference in tribe and religion, that we are one.
In recent times, we have made the youth to shun violence through our sensitization exercise, to contribute positively to the development of Nigeria and avoid the use of illicit drugs. But this is not just our fight, parents should also spare time and monitor their children, the relevant agencies should also do more to checkmate these quacks turned pharmacists and the government on its part, should invest more in youth oriented programmes to keep them busy and away from drug abuse.
Majority of the illegal migrants who end up in the hands of human traffickers are youths. Is there a concerted effort towards discouraging this sort of migration that more often than not, ends in suffering and even deaths?
My advice to this present administration is that they should be sincere in all they do. This administration should know that service to humanity, is service to God.
So, all leaders at every level of government should know that whatever the position they are, one day they will leave. Either as a call by nature or their tenure will elapse. They should work towards achieving all what they promised the Nigerian people.
The Nigerian youths are not asking for too much, we need a conducive environment, necessary social amenities; the state government and local governments should not leave all the problems to the federal government to solve, they should in their own little ways contribute to end these challenges.
Youths are running to Abuja, the old men are not willing to go back to their villages, because there are no hospitals, no infrastructure and lack of security in their localities. So, most major cities are full of old men and women. In the developed world, you hardly see all these, as old men are going back to their localities to build new or more leaders. But the Nigeria case is different, so this is a call on the federal government to provide the enabling environment for the youth to strive. When they do all these, our youths will not think of risking their lives to go and become slaves in another man’s country.
What is your relationship with other youth oriented associations in Nigeria?
Every legitimate, every legally registered youth organizations is affiliated to National Youth Council of Nigeria. I am a comrade that was built by National Association of Nigeria Students (NANS), I am a NANS comrade, trained through NANS before becoming the President of the National Youth Council of Nigeria.
So NANS and some of these associations are sister bodies of the NYCN. So if any Youth Organization registers with Corporate Affairs Commission today, they will also register with us to become members of Youth Council of Nigeria. NYCN is an umbrella body recognized by the federal government to take care of activities of Nigerian youth and bridge the gap between the youth and the government irrespective of tribe, religion or political affiliations.
So, the National Youth Council of Nigeria has advised its chapters that, if your state government is APGA, make sure the government does the right thing. If your state government is APC make sure you support the government to achieve for the benefit of all.
If your state government is PDP make sure your help that government to achieve its set objectives. We at the national level, we also do the same for the federal government to succeed. So, Youth Council is not partisan, we are partners in progress and we support the government and party of the day at various levels of government.
Tell us about some of projects and programmes that the council has executed?
The first project I embarked on was a peace and reconciliation move within the National Youth Council of Nigeria. A great philosopher once said that “peace is nothing, but without peace there is nothing”. So, in line with this, we have worked towards a peaceful youth council and reconciled all the aggrieved members.
Today, we are a united entity. We have also put in many training programmes to train thousands of the Nigerian youths on skills acquisition. For example, hundreds of our youths were enrolled for training in Aba, Abia state, on how to produce military desert boots, and when they are back, they will be empowered to start massive production.
Also, for the ladies, the National Youth Council of Nigeria is training them on beads making, salon businesses, tailoring, catering, cake making and other skills and this are ongoing at the National Women Development Centre, here in Abuja.
By next year, we shall unveil some of our projects on education, agriculture and entrepreneurship. In this aspect, Abia and Yobe state governments have been very supportive. The Yobe state government has given the council land and plan is under way to empower thousands of the Nigerian youths.
With the passage of the Not Too Young To Run Bill, how prepared are Nigerian youths to take charge of leadership positions at all levels?
First and foremost, we really appreciate the National Assembly, under the leadership of the Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki and the Speaker, House of Representatives, Hon. Yakubu Dogara for the passage of the bill at that level. The passage has shown that there is light at the end of the tunnel, they have given the Nigerian youths hope and with the passage of the bill at the National Assembly. We have been encouraged to do more.
However, the passage is just like giving someone a new car, with fuel but without tyre for it to move. So, the leadership of the National Assembly and other political leaders across the country should appoint and ensure that youth are gradually incorporated into the affairs of governance. The Nigerian youths are very much ready to take charge, as over time most of us have engaged ourselves in activities that will help develop our leadership skills. We are fully prepared, come 2019 we will take our shot on some positions and you will see how youth will change the country for the better.
As President, what are the challenges you face in the day to day activities of the youth council?
You see as a Comrade and even in leadership, challenges are ingredients that give you power to do more. Without challenges, there will be no need for leadership, naturally we must face challenges and these challenges are what made us who we are.
At the National Youth Council of Nigeria, we don’t see challenges as a big problem. Our number is our strength, we have millions of youths in this country and with their support at various levels, we change challenges to positive things. Our only challenge is probably funding, but with the strength and support of members, we are tackling it and by the grace of God, we will get there.
After close to three years in office, how would you describe the current administration of President Muhammadu Buhari, especially on its youth policy?
We thank God for making one among the best to be our President, that is President Muhammadu Buhari. He has one thing that makes him standout, and that is integrity. Because you can be talented, rich, popular and have every other thing, but without integrity, a person will be incomplete especially to lead. So, the President’s integrity is affecting the country positively.
Today, the international community now respects us more. On security, there is a paradigm shift, as the situation especially in North East is far better than what it used to be. The economy is being repositioned and the fight against corruption is yielding positive results.
So, President Muhammadu Buhari is not doing bad. But we urge him to do more in the areas of job creation, as many youths are still unemployed. We shall continue to support his administration to achieve more. We hope and pray that after the tenure of President Buhari the mantle of leadership will be handed over to a vibrant youth.
