In less than a month after his installation as the Emir of Zazzau, Amb. Ahmed Nuhu Bamalli, has been appointed as the Chairman of
Special Committee on Youths and Civil Societies by the Northern Governors’ Forum.
His appointed as the Chairman of the Committee followed the recent developments in the country arising from the ENDSARS protests and its subsequent fallouts.
According to the Chairman of Northern Governors’ Forum, Gov. Simon Bako Lalong, disclosed that the Committee is very significant not only because of recent issues related to the ENDSARS protests and its subsequent hijack, but because of strategic role that youths play in the socio-economic and political development of the nation.
While inaugurating the Committee on Wednesday in Kaduna, Gov. Lalong explained that youths form a bulk of the population of the region and the nation, and as such have a great role to play in the destiny of the country.
“Their voices must not only be heard, but their opinions and views should always be carried along in governance.
“Here in the Northern Region, the challenges facing the youths are enormous and very well known to us. These include unemployment, illiteracy, crime, drug abuse among others. As leaders, we must not only address these challenges, but also engage the youths in a manner that they own the process to make any initiative successful and long lasting.
“That is why the assignment of this committee is very crucial in our agenda of changing the fortunes of our youths from despondency to hope and from few opportunities to vast windows for self-realization and wealth creation.
“Our region is blessed with human and material resources particularly in agriculture which if properly harnessed, can turn around the unpleasant condition of our youths and enable them take the lead in the emancipation of the region. This is bearing in mind that sooner than later, they are going to be in the saddle of leadership.
“In creating that conducive environment for our youths to flourish, we must tackle the current challenges of insecurity in the region which are dominated by insurgency, kidnapping, banditry and other conflicts. We shall continue to work with the Federal
Government and security agencies to tackle crime and criminality.
“That is why we have supported a comprehensive reform of the policing architecture in the country, far beyond the scrapplng of SARS, to the implementation of Community Policing and the proper funding and training of police personnel. Like I have explained severally, the Northern Governors Forum is not against the disbandment of SARS, as misconstrued in some quarters.
“We have rather cautioned against the blanket condemnation of the police that can erode the confidence and zeal of hardworking and honest ones to performing their duties of protecting lives and properties.
“This Committee is also saddled with the responsibility of creating a robust interface with members of the civil society within the region, in order to facilitate engagement and dialogue that will help advance solutions towards addressing the challenges of the region.
“We believe such engagement will enable us collate all shades of opinions and views that will strengthen governance, accountability as well as generate a proper feedback mechanism that will enhance development. The civil society will create the platform for both government and citizens to synergize and work together for the good of the society,” Gov. Lalong explained.
