As the National Youths Council of Nigerià (NYCN) Elections draws near, A formidable Contender for the office of NYCN President Comrade Umar Lauya Falakin Hardawa has assured the Youths in Nigerià that he will do everything possible to ensured their Empowerment.
Comrade Hardawa stated this recently during his declaration Speech as he want to be the next National President of NYCN.
” To the vibrant youth of Nigeria, today, we stand at a turning point in history. Today, I officially declare my intention to contest for the position of National President of the National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN).
I am here not to talk about politics as usual, but about our shared future. I am here because I believe, with every fiber of my being, that when you build the youth, you build the nation, and when you destroy the youth, you destroy the nation.
” I was born in the Hardawa District Palace, Misau, Bauchi State, a place where leadership was not a privilege, but a duty. My father taught me that power means responsibility, and service means sacrifice.
” As Chairman of NYCN Bauchi State, and later as leader of the Bauchi State Youth Consultative Forum, I did not just sit in meetings, I fought for scholarships, jobs, skills programs, and peace initiatives that touched thousands of lives.
” Our Youth crisis is not confined to one region, it is a national challenge that demands a united response. According to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), while youth unemployment fell to 6.5% in Q2 2024, more than 53% of Nigerian youth remain underemployed, trapped in work that cannot sustain them. Every year, 4–5 million young people enter a job market already overstretched.,
The NBS Labour Force Survey also shows that 41.7% of our youth aged 15–24 are outside the labour force, neither working, studying, nor training. UNESCO and UNICEF report that 18.3 million Nigerian children and youth are out of school, one in every three, many forced out by poverty, insecurity, and lack of access.
” Insecurity and displacement have worsened youth vulnerability in many areas. In Katsina State, Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) recorded 652 child deaths from malnutrition in just the first half of 2025, a 208% increase over last year. In the South, economic and social pressures also weigh heavily. The NBS notes youth unemployment rates as high as 18.7% in Abia, 13.4% in Rivers, and 10.9% in Imo, all above the national average. Even in cities like Lagos, thousands of young people are pulled into street gangs and crime, not by choice, but by lack of opportunity and support.
” Across the South West, South East, and South South, school attendance rates exceed 96%, yet hidden struggles remain. In states like Ogun, school dropout rates have more than doubled in some communities due to economic hardship. Whether in the streets of Lagos, the creeks of the Niger Delta, the farmlands of the Middle Belt, or the villages of the far North, the challenges facing Nigerian youth are connected. And so too must be our solutions.
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” But how can the NYCN lead this national revival when it is fractured from within? For years, our Council has been paralyzed by factional battles, court orders, and leadership crises, from the dissolution of the 2019 NEC to the recent turmoil of 2025. This infighting distracts from our mission and betrays your trust. This ends now. If elected, my first priority is to heal the NYCN by reconciling all factions through transparent dialogue guided by our constitution and rule of law. Auditing and reforming our governance. Restoring the NYCN as a stable, united engine solely focused on your empowerment, not internal wars.
” Empowerment that works: Real projects in entrepreneurship, skills acquisition, and digital innovation.
” Sports as a unifier: World-class sports academies, a revived football league, and talent development.
“Creative industries as powerhouses: Supporting entertainment and creatives to create jobs and shape our global image.
” Revived student leadership: Building stronger youth bodies as platforms for future leaders.
” Education financing: Strengthening loan schemes, reviving Presidential Youth Awards, and true inclusion in governance.
” One Nigeria, one youth voice: Breaking ethnic, religious, and regional barriers to unite us.
” In Bauchi, we proved this approach works: rehabilitating the State Youth Development Centre, securing thousands of empowerment opportunities, and championing peace across all 20 LGAs. I’ve served on the ECOWAS Counter-Terrorism Committee, the North East Security Committee, the Presidential NEDC Initiative, and represented Nigeria internationally. I have the experience, networks, and commitment to turn these promises into results for you.
My friends, this is not about me, it is about us. It is about ending decades of division and proving that Nigerian youth can unite beyond politics, tribe, or religion. It is about taking our rightful place in shaping Nigeria’s destiny. I ask for your mandate not just to lead, but to heal and rebuild the NYCN. We will resolve internal conflicts decisively, restore unity, and refocus on progress. To you, the youth, I swear: Your Council will be stable, effective, and 100% dedicated to delivering real results. Your trust will not be in vain.
” Together, we will empower the youth. Together, we will unite the nation. Together, we will build a future brimming with promise.
