Natives of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) under the auspices of Abuja Original Inhabitants Youths Empowerment Organisation (AOIYEO) have said the establishment of FCT Youth Network (FCT-YN) has brought greater coordination to indigenous youth advocacy, promoted peaceful engagement with government and created an avenue for grooming future leaders in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
The executive director of AOIYEO, Commandant Isaac David, stated this during a press briefing in Abuja yesterday, where he explained the rationale behind the creation of the youth network and outlined its achievements since inception.
David said the organisation recognised the need for a structured platform to organise indigenous youths, noting that just as politicians build political structures to pursue power and implement their programmes, citizens also need organised civic platforms to engage government and advance their collective interests.
“Those who seek political office usually form structures that amplify their reach, support their ambitions and help them implement their objectives. Likewise, ordinary citizens need organised civil structures through which they can engage government on critical issues, amplify their voices and contribute meaningfully to public discourse,” he said.
He explained that the FCT Youth Network was established after AOIYEO observed that the agitation for the rights of Abuja’s Original Inhabitants had become fragmented, with individuals speaking independently in the media without a coordinated position.
According to him, the absence of a common voice often created conflicting narratives that weakened the advocacy for indigenous rights.
“Our agitation became too open. Anyone could appear on television, radio or in newspapers and speak on behalf of the FCT natives without an agreed position. That created different interpretations of our demands and confused the general public,” David said.
He noted that AOIYEO consequently established the FCT Youth Network to mentor younger indigenous leaders and prepare them for future responsibilities in public service.
“We created this platform to train the younger generation, preparing them for leadership and good governance so that when they eventually find themselves in government, they will already possess the knowledge, discipline and capacity required to serve the people effectively,” he said.
David argued that many governance challenges, including corruption, could be traced to inadequate leadership development at the grassroots.
He said the youth network provides an opportunity to identify, mentor and assess young leaders long before they assume positions of authority.
“If you examine the system, you will discover that corruption often results from the failure to prepare people adequately before they assume leadership positions. The Youth Network enables us to nurture future leaders and evaluate them ahead of greater responsibilities,” he added.
Highlighting the achievements of the network, David said it has helped eliminate unnecessary protests and promoted more responsible methods of civic engagement.
He recalled that before the establishment of the platform, demonstrations and road blockades were common across the FCT, but noted that indigenous youths now understand how to pursue their demands without disrupting public order.
