ATTENTION:
His Excellency, Dist. Sen. Hope Uzodimma (Onwa Imo)
Executive Governor of Imo State
The National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN), Imo State Chapter, under the purposeful leadership of Comrade Stephen Akuchie, wishes to respectfully draw the attention of our dear Governor, fondly regarded as the Pan-African Youth Governor, to a critical matter of youth inclusion in the affairs of our great state.
We have observed with deep concern the recently proposed 50th Anniversary Celebration Committee of Imo State, chaired by the Secretary to the State Government, Chief. Sir. Cosmas Iwu. While we commend the government for taking proactive steps towards celebrating this historic milestone, it is worrisome to note that the committee reportedly comprising 26 members has no direct representation of the youth constituency.
Most importantly, neither the Honourable Commissioner for Youth Development, Hon. Mandela Ukaegbu, nor the Special Adviser to the Governor on Youth Mobilization, Hon. Eric Uwakwe (JP), both of whom are statutory youth leaders and direct liaisons between government and the youth population, were included in this all-important committee which the youth is expected to participate also.
Your Excellency, this celebration represents not only the past and present of Imo State, but also it’s future which is firmly in the hands of the youth. Excluding youth leadership from such a landmark planning process sends an unintended signal of marginalization to a demographic that remains the backbone of governance sustainability, civic participation, and electoral success.
Furthermore, we wish to respectfully bring to your notice that the organized youth structure in Imo State has not had a formal interface with Your Excellency throughout the past years of your administration. We humbly request this rare privilege to engage with you, through our recognized youth leadership, to discuss pressing issues affecting Imo youths, especially in areas of employment, empowerment, security participation, political inclusion, and social development.
Your Excellency, Imo youths have continued to demonstrate loyalty and commitment to your administration through:
massive participation in PVC registration and e-registration exercises,
active involvement in election mobilization,
and steadfast readiness to protect democratic mandates.
However, meaningful participation cannot thrive where structured engagement and inclusion are absent.
We sincerely appreciate the many developmental strides your administration has recorded and we acknowledge your consistent efforts towards repositioning Imo State. We are confident that with stronger youth inclusion, your achievements will not only multiply but will also enjoy deeper grassroots ownership and sustainability.
In view of the above, the NYCN Imo State Chapter respectfully but firmly requests:
- The immediate inclusion of the Honourable Commissioner for Youth Development and the Special Adviser on Youth Mobilization in the Imo @ 50 Committee, to ensure adequate youth representation.
- A formal interface between Your Excellency and the leadership of organized youth bodies in Imo State, to foster collaboration and shared vision for youth development.
The National Youth Council of Nigeria remains the Apex Youth Umbrella Body in Imo State, committed to promoting peace, development, responsible civic engagement, and participatory governance.
Your Excellency, history will always remember leaders who deliberately carried the youth along. We strongly believe that youth inclusion today guarantees stability, loyalty, and progress tomorrow.
We trust in your fatherly disposition and commitment to inclusive governance to grant these patriotic requests in the overall interest of Imo State.
Long live Governor Hope Uzodimma!
Long live Imo State!!
Long live the Federal Republic of Nigeria!!!
Signed:
✍️ Media Directorate
National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN)
Imo State Chapter
