By Damilola Kushimo
The National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN), Isolo LCDA has complained of lack of funds as the main reason it could not render support to members of its host community during the COVID-19 pandemic crisis.
Speaking with ECHONEWS, the Coordinator of the group, Comrade Saliu Adewole explained that this frustrated its plan to provide for the people like other chapters of the council.
It will be recalled that the NYCN in Ejigbo LCDA donated face masks to the local government and the police.
Adewole, who said the failure of efforts to raise funds from well-meaning figures and political heavyweights in the community was responsible for its financial situation, said its members made up for this by joining the committees set up by the council to enforce the lockdown.
He said: “We’ve not been able to do much basically because we don’t get any help from anybody. However, during the lockdown, some of our members were able to, individually, provide support for some members of the community while some of us volunteered to join the taskforce that enforced compliance with the government directives. »
He said the NYCN has been raising funds from its members bout lamented that most of them, being students and artisans, were affected by the restrictions on economic activities following the lockdown.
He also cited the disposition of local government authorities as a factor in the effectiveness of youth council adding that most youth councils face challenges because of inadequate support from local governments.
“It all bothers on area, political happenings and stricture. All these are the factors affecting NYCN in all local government areas and Isolo isn’t an exemption but, we are trying our best here. We don’t have the opportunity here in Isolo. I will say in Isolo anything that has to do with youth activitism is confined to partisanship. Anything outside this factor is given lesser attention and that is what has given us a heavy blow in Isolo LCDA.”
Adewole, however, boasted that if the youth council gets the deserved attention and support by the members of the community especially political figures, social vices would decrease in the community.
