The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rep. Femi Gbajabiamila, has said that he remains committed to his advocacy on youth inclusion in governance.
The Speaker said he subscribed to the belief that the Nigerian youth had a lot to offer, a remained a youth advocate.
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.
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.
“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”, he said.
However, the Speaker noted that “power is not served à la carte,” hence the Nigerian youth must peacefully work toward gaining positions of leadership.
Earlier, the leader of the group, Bar. Ismail Ahmed, who is also the Senior Special Assistant to the President on the National Social Investment Programme as well as the caretaker national youth leader of the APC, said Gbajabiamila had shown loyalty, dedication and commitment to the APC as a progressive family.
He said with the way the Speaker appointed mostly young people as his aides, he had shown uncommon love to the Nigerian youth and proved that he remained a progressive to the core.
He said the visit was to encourage the Speaker to continue being an ambassador for the Nigerian youth.
“There needs to be a clear demonstration by this party (APC) to include the young people in governance. We want you to be the voice and ambassador of young people wherever you find yourself.
“Though you’ve been an ambassador to us, we want you to be a bigger ambassador for us”, Bar. Ahmed said.
Other members of the APC youth group, comprising government appointees and members of the private sector, commended the Speaker for being pro-youth.
