THEME: SOUTHERN UNITY, BUILDING BRIDGES FOR A PROSPEROUS FUTURE
The Congress under the distinguished leadership of Comr. Emordi Ugochukwu Caleb (Odogwu) GCA. called for Southern Nigeria National stakeholders converge, to Seek consensus and collaborations of all component states, ethnic groups and Stakeholders from Southern Nigeria and to collectively resolve to strategically push for development of the region taking advantage of the southern Presidency and to call for support for southern Leaders.
The Minister for Youth Development Dr Olawande Ayo and the Senate Committee Chairman on Youth and Sports Senator Yemi Adaramodu keyed into the vision. The Honorable Minister assured the congress of the ministry’s collaboration and went, ahead to issue a letter of endorsement for the converge. Consequently, The national planning committee consulted stakeholders such as all the commissioner for youths of the 17 states, the Southern Traditional ruler’s council, the southern Ethnic Nationality youth leaders, PANDEF, all state students’ associations, southern senators and National Assembly members, as well as wrote to the seventeen southern Governors.
The converge which held on the 6th of November, 2024 at National Merit House Maitama, Abuja had all Ethnic youth groups form Southern Nigeria represented, Senators, members of the house of representatives, State youth commissioners, members of PANDEF, and over one thousand Delegates from across the 17 Southern States in attendance.
RESOLUTIONS
1i. Unity of Purpose: The converged voted and resolved, that going forward, the south will speak in one voice through the following channels after due consultation and the entire stakeholders in Southern Nigeria will stand by their collective resolve:
A. Southern Governors Forum: on Political matters
B. Southern senators and Southern representatives Caucus on legislative matters
C. Southern Traditional Rulers council on Sensitive ethnic and regional matters
D. Southern Nigeria youth Congress on youth related and development matters of regional interests.
1ii. The Converge further Resolved to push for a unified platform through which all these agreed organs and interface and inter relate on issues regarding the region to ensure unity of Purpose.
2. The Launch of Southern Consensus Movement: The Converge Launched the Southern Consensus Movement, a state by state Stakeholders engagement to discuss distinct Interests of component ethnic groups, resolve at the grassroot level to work together, cause awareness regarding the resolutions of the converge, collectively agree to speak with one voice and to declare solidarity for southern Leaders.
3. Constitution of Board of trustees: The converge Constituted the board of Trustees of the southern Nigeria youth Congress to include all the state youth commissioners of the 17 states, all past president Generals, some ethnic Nationality youth leaders and a few stakeholders with Dr. Michael Mandela Ukeagbu, Imo state Commissioner for youths and talent development as chairman, The Lagos state commissioner for youth development as Co-chairman and the Delta state commissioner for youth development as the Secretary of the board of Trustees.
4. Constitution of National Patrons: Senator Ned Nwoko from South South, Senator Yemi Adaramodu from South West and Rt Hon Benjamin Kalu from south East were nominated as National Patrons while the Imo state Governor His Excellency Sen. Hope Uzodimma was nominated as the Grand Patron for the period under review.
5. Advisory Council: The Southern Traditional rulers council was Unanimously adopted as the National Advisory council for southern Nigerian youth Congress.
6. Regional Development: A resolution was reached for the Southern Nigeria youth Congress to engage relevant public office from Southern Nigeria to task them on region Development with focus on the Physical infrastructure, Youth empowerment, job creation and employment, health care development and investment on the ministry of regional development.
7. State of Federal RiFs in Southern Nigeria: A State of emergency was declared in Southern Federal roads as the converge resolved to prevail on the Minister for works to pay special attention on Southern Federal roads.
8. Insecurity in South East: The converge urged presidency to look into the agitations of South Easterners with a view of funding lasting solution to the insecurity challenges in the south east states
9. Support for southern: Leaders: The converge declared their total support and Solidarity for Southern leaders but commits to prevail on them to play their parts in bringing Nigeria back in track.
10. Affirmation of Solidarity: The converge agreed that in the case of agitations partaking to specific ethnic groups in the south, upon proper consultation, other ethnic groups will stand with them in solidarity as a mark of commitment to the Southern Consensus Movement.
