Afizere Youth Movement Inaugurates New Executive

By Jide Afolabi, Jos

The Afizere Youth Movement (National Body) today, Sunday, inaugurated its newly elected National Executives in an elaborated event held at the Conference Hall of the Hill Station Hotel in Jos.

The occasion which was chaired by the Vice-Chancellor, Plateau State University, PLASU, Prof Yohanna Izam, saw the celebration of Afizere culture and exhibition of a variety of foods of Izere nation.

In his address, the outgoing Chairman of the group who was the immediate past Speaker of the Plateau State House of Assembly, Rt Hon Joshua Madaki said it has been a memorable five years sojourn for him and his executive members noting that the outgoing executives worked assiduously to reform the movement’s programmes.

“We created a platform where we invited all party candidates in the general elections for discussions. We also set-up a feedback mechanism where elected leaders and youths had the opportunity for serious engagement” He said.

He stated further that the executive mobilised members to clear the movement’s permanent site. He said that the monthly congress of AYM has improved significantly.

“We visited crisis-affected areas; renewed AYM registration; organised our annual festival; ensuring the cordial working relationship with Abuja and Lagos branches and built bridges of harmony with other ethnic nationalities” He concluded.

While delivering his opening remarks, the Chairman of the occasion, Prof Yohanna Izam urged the newly elected executive members to create a social re-engineering and continue to defend the Izere culture saying that the Izere youths would depend on them.

He said “The expectation on you is very high, you cannot afford to fail. I’m happy the exco is truly a youth exco. I was 30 years old when I was the President of this movement. I hope you would create a platform where some of us can deliver lectures to add value to Izere nation.”

The newly sworn-in Chairman of AYM, Barrister Zachariah Aware in his acceptance speech promised that AYM would be ‘resuscitated, rebranded and maintain some levels of independence’.

Aware used the opportunity to introduce his 3-pillar policy which includes “Unity, Education, and Empowerment”.

He commended the state governor, Rt Hon Simon Bako Lalong for appointing sons and daughters of Izere into key positions in the state. He, however, noted that the group would serve as a watchdog to the society and would not condone underperformance.

He appealed to all to forget the past and join hands with him to move the movement forward noting that “No victor, no vanquished. Together, we shall make the Izere nation great”. The new Secretary-General of the movement, Vincent Nyam Vincent and other newly elected executives were as well sworn-in.

There were goodwill messages from the new Secretary to the Government of the State, Prof Danladi Abok Atu, Jos North Local Government Chairman, Hon Dr Philip Nyam, Chairman of traditional leaders in Jos South LGA, and Afizere Community Development Chairman among others.

The occasion had in attendance, great sons and daughters of the Izere nation and other nationalities including the new Secretary to the Government of the State, Prof Danladi Abok Atu, Speaker of the Plateau State House of Assembly, Rt Hon Abok Ayuba, Member Representing Jos South/Jos East in the House of Representatives, Hon Dachung Bagos and his Jos North/Bassa counterpart, Hon Haruna Maitala, former Speaker of the Plateau State House of Assembly, Rt Hon Joshua Izang Madaki, and Members Representing Jos North-North and Jos North-West in the Plateau State House of Assembly, and Hon Ibarahim Baba Hassan respectively.

Other dignitaries at the occasion were Chairmen, Jos North, and Jos East Local Government Areas, Hon Dr Philip Nyam and Hon Ibrahim Abok respectively, Hon Esther Dusu who served as the Chairlady, Hon Theresa Azi, Plateau State Head of Service and Permanent Secretaries, Traditional leaders and leaders of other ethnic nationalities among others.