OSUN STATE YOUTH TOWN HALL MEETING: CPC INAUGURATION

ADDRESS DELIVERED AT THE INAUGURATION CEREMONY OF THE PLANNING COMMITTEE ON THE PROPOSED TOWN HALL MEETING FOR THE YOUTHS OF OSUN STATE, HELD ON FRIDAY OCTOBER 16TH, 2009, AT THE NETNOS OFFICE, OPPOSITE TECHNICAL COLLEGE, OSOGBO, OSUN STATE


Protocol observed

It is with the Grace of God that we are gathering here today in order to chart a new course in the development of a better future for the youths of Osun State and Nigeria as a whole. Today marks the inauguration of the Planning Committee on the proposed Town Hall Meeting for the Youths of Osun State. As a slogan says: service to humanity is the best work of life, the Committee is expected to carry-out the responsibilities of looking into and facilitating all ways towards the actualization of the proposed Youth Town Hall Meeting in the state with the anticipated result of positive impacts on the lives of Osun State youths and society.

To those that are not aware of the concept of the National Youth Parliament, let me start by telling you that it is the programme of the United Nations through which youths are being involved in democratic processes and mainstreaming youths into government’s policy formulation & implementation. As a signatory to this treaty and in line with the international best democratic practice, the Nigerian government adopted this programme last year and established the first ever Nigerian Youth Parliament through the Federal Ministry of Youth Development. Its formal inauguration was conducted by His Excellency, Alhaji Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, ably represented by the Honourable Minister of Youth Development, Senator Akinlabi Olasunkanmi, on August 25th, 2008, at the National Assembly Complex, Abuja. The Nigerian Youth Parliament is a medium through which Nigerian Youths are being involved in government’s policy formulation and implementation at the national level. It also promotes legislative exposures for Nigerian youth representatives, fostering consensus building and agenda setting on contemporary national and/or youth related issues in Nigeria. It consists of 109 distinguished Youth Legislators from the Senatorial Districts of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, in which Youth legislators from the three Senatorial Districts in Osun State are actively representing the youths of the State.

Since its inception, the Parliament has had opportunities to hold two sittings at the National Assembly Complex in Abuja and two National Town Hall Meetings in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State (for the southern states in Nigeria) and Bauchi, Bauchi State (for the northern states in Nigeria). The Youth Town Hall Meeting is a programme designed, among others, to update the youths on the activities of the Nigerian Youth Parliament; it serves as a feedback mechanism to the youths and it also calls for progressive brainstorming sessions among our colleagues on matters that are of great importances to our physical, mental and socio-economic developments. According to a reliable statistics, Nigerian Youths constitute over 60% of the Nigeria’s total population and hence signifying the important position we are holding in our country.

The strategic objectives of the Town Hall Meeting are:
1 To further strengthen the youth’s voice in Nigeria democratic process by building an active constituency for the work of the Nigerian Youth Parliament in its activities.
2 To provide an opportunity for building consensus among youths from diverse interest groups and between other stakeholders across the country.
3 To give the leader of the Nigerian Youth Parliament a first-hand opportunity to interact with and understand the issues affecting different youth constituencies.
4 To proffer solutions to the rising trend of Youth restiveness by creating a channel of opinion ventilation for Youth.

As regards the proposed Youth Town Hall Meeting in Osun State in which we are inaugurating its Planning Committee today, we have reviewed all the features of the ones we have held at the national level and suit it to our immediate environment but with the same objectives.

In the words of Franklin D. Roosevelt, he said, “We cannot always build the future for our youth, but we can build our youth for the future.” In another version, Thomas Jefferson said: “if the we cannot prepare the future for the youths, we can at least prepare the youths for the future.” This, we believed, is a capacity building for all those that will be involved in the implementation of this laudable programme. Thus, to those that were opportuned to be members of this Committee, this is a clarion call for a selfless service to our colleagues in the state and an opportunity to contribute our quota to the peaceful development of the state.

On behalf of my distinguished honourable colleagues in the state (Hon. Tinuola Awosemo – Osun East Senatorial District and Hon. Jimoh Abiola – Osun West Senatorial District), I heartily congratulate you all for your readiness to take up the challenges. We believe so much that you are up to the tasks ahead of you and that you will not disappoint the peace-loving youths of our dear state in discharging your responsibilities.

We acknowledge the moral supports we have received so far from Osun State Ministry of Information & Youth Development, the Honourable Speaker of the Nigerian Youth Parliament and Osun State Chapter of the National Youth Council of Nigeria under the Chairmanship of Alh. Yakub Oni.
At this junction, we are saying CONGRATULATIONS to you all and wishing you all the best!

Long live Osun State Youth
Long live Nigerian Youths, and
Long live the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

SIGNED: Hon. Isiaka Olamilekan Popoola, Osun Central Senatorial District, For Osun State Representatives at the NYP