A cross section of the leadership of Youth in Action for Peace (YAPSL) on 17th October 2023 paid a courtesy call on the Chairman of the National Council for Civic Education and Democracy (NaCCED), Mr. Kalilu I. Totangi, to thank him and the NaCCED team for their partnership over the years, especially before and during the 2023 elections.
You may recall that NaCCED and YAPSL have worked together on several projects since the establishment of the Council, including but not limited to addressing clique and gang-related violence, community civic engagement on rights and responsibilities, the Mask Up campaign during the COVID-19 pandemic, and the 2023 general elections.
In his statement, Mr. Saidu Kamara, the YAPSL Chairman expressed thanks and appreciation for the respect accorded them, and the recognition and partnership with the Council. “I thank you Mr. Chairman for the good working relationship with your office, and the partnership we have built over the years since you assumed office”. He stressed that they were always happy and ready to work with NaCCED, adding that it is the only institution that has an open door policy towards them. He said YAPSL is a youth-based organization comprising the Blacks, Reds, and Cribs and others. He noted that young people like them have often been vilified by some elders and government officials who see them as rabble rousers. “It is a great credit to you and your organization, Mr. Chairman, that despite all these bad raps about us, you still found value in us and have partnered with us on several of your campaigns, we thank you for that”, he concluded.
Francis Cham, YAPSL Coordinator reaffirmed their continued interest in maintaining the good relationship they have nurtured with NaCCED. He noted that many of them are fathers and husbands and that they also have ageing parents who rely on them for their livelihoods. He therefore called on the NaCCED Chairman “to serve as an advocate for them to the powers that be, so that they will recognize our suffering and provide jobs for us”. “You can attest to the fact that contrary to what people say about us, we are not all lazy”, he continued. “You have given us assignments before which we have carried out successfully. So we want you to plead with the government to come to our aid”, he concluded.
In response, the NaCCED Chairman, Mr. Kalilu I. Totangi, thanked YAPSL for their kind gesture. He gave a brief background of the NaCCED-YAPSL relationship that has spanned since 2018, while stressing the need to “continue working together for the good of everyone”.
He said that the gesture manifested how much he is appreciated as a leader of the Council. He thanked members of the organization for their outstanding performance during the Bullhorn Campaign in June 2020 (COVID-19 campaign) and the 2023 non-violence election community engagements and float parade. He noted that, “the campaigns were successful because of your active involvement – which resulted in a successful fight against the pandemic and a peaceful 2023 elections”.
Mr. Totangi disclosed that a plan for a national campaign to address the prevalence of KUSH is underway and encouraged them to avail themselves when they would be called upon to participate. In his words, “our collective efforts will help transform the lives of both victims and perpetrators in the Kush business”. He encouraged them to talk to their colleagues to stay away from Kush, as in his words, “it has posed serious health challenges which many times result in death”. He ended with recounting sad stories involving families who have lost loved ones to Kush smoking.
The highlight of the occasion was the presentation of a photo-board of the Chairman, “for being together with the youth”.
