Gbajabiamila Reiterates Support for Youth Inclusion in Governance

By Udora Orizu

The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, has reiterated his commitment to the advocacy for youth inclusion in governance.

Speaking when he hosted the APC Youth Lobby Committee on inclusion during a courtesy call on Thursday at the National Assembly, Gbajabiamila encouraged the Nigerian youth to continue to be productive.

He said: “The 9th House of Representatives had also keyed into the youth advocacy in governance and public offices as many bills being considered were motivated by the interest of the youth.

“We should be able to put the interest of the youth at the forefront. We’ll continue to support you. It’s what we’ve been doing. In the House itself, if you look at the committees we have, young people occupy most of the leadership.

“In my constituency during the last election, we elected the youngest chairman in the history of my constituency, Surulere. For me, this meeting is just a formality. I’ve been at the forefront of youth inclusion. So, what you’re doing is just to meet the relevant stakeholders.”

Gbajabiamila, however, noted that “power is not served à la carte,” hence the Nigerian youth must peacefully work toward gaining positions of leadership.

Earlier, Senior Special Assistant to the President on the National Social Investment Programme and the leader of the group, Mr. Ismail Ahmed, said that the party needed to make itself attractive to the youth.

Ahmed called on the speaker to be the ambassador of youths, adding that the committee was proposing a progressive institute for the party, which would teach the ethos of what it meant to be progressive.