Youth Development And Empowerment Initiative/LEAP, Africa Pays Advocacy Visit To Kogi NUJ

By Obansa Ibrahim, Lokoja

The Youth Development And Empowerment Initiative/LEAP Africa takes advocacy visit to the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ), Kogi state Council to seek the collaboration of the leadership and members of the union in the state.

The team led by Okwutepa Aminu Oseni was received by the chairman of the NUJ Kogi State Council, Comrade Sheidu Ademu and his executive members.

According to Oseni, the organisation is focused on Youth Upright Accountability, YUA-P, which is a six months project, saying it is an organisation of youth Development and Empowerment Initiative in kogi state in collaboration with LEAP Africa.

He said central to the development of the project, YUA-P is the invaluable input of young Ñigerians themselves, as captured in The Nigeria -We Want Report- adding that it is a comprehensive document that amplifies the voices and aspirations of our youth.

He however noted that the report, initiated under the auspices of the Nigeria Youth Futures Fund, NYFF, represents a grassroots -led national visioning process, ensuring that the concerns and ideas of young Nigerians are integrated into the fabric of the nations future.

Oseni further said YUA-P seeks to empower young Nigerians with the tools and resources needed to actively engage in governance processes, promote transparency, and drive meaningful change in their communities.

According to him, Through strategic interventions and targeted initiatives, YUA-P addresses the structural factors underlying youth exclusion in democratic governance participation, including youth restiveness, inexperience, and lack of accountability and transparency in governance processes.

He however mentioned the request needed from NUJ, Kogi state council as media endorsement and coverage of YUA-P project, Highlighting Youth Success Stories in showcasing the achievements of young change makers identify through YUA-P, through features, interviews or documentaries that inspire others to get involved.

He stressed that by collaborating with Kogi NUJ, YUA-P , can achieve greater impact through increased public Awareness and empowering youth voices.

In his response, the chairman of NUJ, Kogi State council, Comrade Sheidu Ademu welcome the team to his office, assuring them of partnering with the team to succeed in their project. He therefore called on members of the union to see the need to partner with the organisation.

He assured the team of the commitment of all working journalists, stating that as professionals they will ensure that their request for NUJ support on media endorsement and coverage for YUA-P is successfully met, he said.

In a related development, a Non-Governmental Organisation, Brain Builders Youth Development Initiatives has also paid a courtesy visit to Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, Kogi State council.

The Project Director, of Youth Gov. Tracka, Umar DanAsabe Mohammed said they were in NUJ, Kogi State council to seek for partnernership with the Union on the proposed project, Youth Gov. Tracka,

The council chairman , Comrade Sheidu Ademu who was represented by his secretary, Olusegun Oyenibi assured that Kogi NUJ is very ready to partner with any organisation saying as long the organisation and its project has genuine motives, he stressed.