…NYCN Is Not a Political Arm of Government, Says State Chair
Calabar— The Cross River State chapter of the National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN) has announced plans to convene a statewide youth summit before the end of September NEGROIDHAVEN can report.
State Chairman of NYCN, Emmanuel Olayi, disclosed this while addressing journalists in Calabar on Monday. He said the summit would bring together young people from all 18 local government areas to deliberate on issues affecting their welfare, security, and role in governance.
According to Olayi, the council is working with government agencies, civil society groups, and development partners to ensure the summit produces actionable resolutions. “This gathering is not just a talk shop. We want a roadmap that empowers youths to become stakeholders in governance, peacebuilding, and economic development,” he stated.
He added that the summit would feature plenary sessions, panel discussions, and breakout engagements on skills development, entrepreneurship, digital opportunities, and political participation.
“We are looking forward to a future where Cross River youths are at the forefront of shaping policies and driving development,” the NYCN Chair said.
The council urged government institutions and private sector actors to support the summit, which it described as “a milestone for youth inclusion and empowerment in the state.”
In another development, the State Chairman of the National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN), Olayi, has reiterated that the council is a neutral body and not an extension of any political party or government institution. He made this clarification in response to speculations linking the council’s activities to partisan interests following the recent altercation during the Deputy Governor’s tour of Obanliku.
Olayi stressed that the NYCN’s primary mandate is to advocate for youth development and empowerment across the state, not to serve as a political tool. “Our loyalty is to the young people of Cross River, regardless of their political or ethnic backgrounds,” he said, adding that attempts to politicize the council’s role could derail its core objectives.
The youth leader further explained that the council maintains a non-partisan stance to remain credible in engaging with both government and opposition figures on issues that affect young people. He assured members that his leadership would continue to resist any pressure to compromise the council’s neutrality.
