(Photo: Amb. Adeola Aderibigbe, the newly elected Speaker, National Youth Assembly of Nigeria (NYAN) Lagos State Chapter (middle) and other national officers of NYAN during the inauguration of new ambassadors on Wednesday in Lagos.)

The National Youth Assembly of Nigeria (NYAN), Lagos State Chapter, on Wednesday elected and inaugurated new representatives (ambassadors) in 40 constituencies in the state.

The ambassadors also in turn elected Amb. Adeola Aderibigbe (Etio-Osa Constituency I) as the State Assembly Speaker, while Amb. Akindayo Ajiboye (Somolu II) emerged as Deputy Speaker.

Other elected principal officers of the assembly are Rasheed Wasilat (Clerk), Victor Martins (Majority Leader), Emmanuel Nwokolo Emmanuel (Minority Leader), and Emmanuel Keshinro (Chief Whip).

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that ambassadors and principal officers were elected and sworn in at the NYAN 2023 Lagos State Convention held at International Press Centre (IPC), Ogba in Lagos.

The Chairman, Convention Planning Committee, Amb. Jamiu Akangbe, said that all representatives were returned unopposed.

Akangbe said that the new ambassadors in various constituencies included John Ojetunde (Somolu I), Naimah Obidola-Adegoke (Ikeja II), Ayodeji Atitebi (Ikeja I), Akindayo Ajiboye (Somolu II), Tosin Akindele (Ikorodu I) and Emmanuel Macaulay (Kosofe I).

Others he said included Washilat Rasheed (Ajeromi Ifelodun I), Matthew Adewunmi (Alimosho II), Emmanuel Keshinro (Oshodi Isolo I), Emmanuel Nwokolo (Amuwo Odofin I), Kennedy Obuzor (Amuwo Odofin II), Adaora Uyanna (Surulere I).

Also elected, according to him, are Adam Abdulfatai (Agege I), Temitope Adeoye (Agege II), Nathaniel Pyennap (Ojo I) Oluwafemi Omisore (Ibeju-Lekki 1) and Phillip Awoseyila (Lagos Mainland 1).

Akangbe said that among the new ambassadors were Kehinde Adegboyega (Lagos Island 1), Olusayo Enoch (Lagos Island II), Julius Itaman (Mushin II), Abdulwasiu Akinwande (Ajeromi Ifelodun II), Imoleayo Adewale (Surulere II).

He said that John Mayomi (Alimosho 1), Obiora Beluolisa (Ibeju-Lekki II), Paul Erameh (Apapa I), Chiamaka Amazigo (Badagry 1) among others were also elected as ambassadors.

Administering the Oath of Office on the new ambassador, Amb. Michael Ogunsola, National Minority Leader, NYAN, said that the group had the mandates to create mechanism for the development of the youths in the country.

Ogunsola said that NYAN both at the National and State level meet four times in a year to chart a way for better future for the youth.

Also speaking, the NYAN National Speaker, Amb. Bashir Shagari urged the newly elected ambassadors and principal officers to show capacity in influencing government policies to protect the interest of the youth.

Shagari, who was represented by Amb. Samsideen Ogunolu, the South West Zonal Coordinator, NYAN, urged the youth to get prepared for the challenges, saying that NYAN believed strongly in consistency, commitment and sacrifice.

He said: “Whatever position you have, don’t be intoxicated by power but work hard to better the cause of the youth.

“We are not an organisation that lobbies to collect money from politicians. We are there to put the matters of youth in our front burner.

“Don’t allow the profit to override your duty. See this privilege as a call to serve and you must serve humanity.

“You educational experience, connectivity and other should be use to support and promote youth. Your post should be used to serve humanity selflessly.”

In his inaugural speech Aderibigbe called on all the ambassadors to forget about differences and ethnic divides in the state but unite and work together to better the lot of the youth.

Emphasising the need for increased youth advocacy, NYAN speaker said that youth in the state needed people that would stand for them and mount pressure on decision makers about various challenges and plights of the youth.

“Millions of youths in Lagos State are jobless and millions are also entrepreneurs who need empower to advance their businesses.

“As Speaker, I will be at the fore front of the advocacy to safeguard the interest of the youth.

“For things to work, however, we all have to unify ourselves and work together not minding our diverse ethnic and religious divides.

“If we can come together and work as youths of Lagos State, I believe Lagos State will be a better place for us all,” Aderibigbe said.