…Hails Revalidation of Affiliated VYOs as Bold Step to Appreciate the North
By Joel Ajayi
The President of the National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN), Amb. Sukubo Sara-Igbe Sukubo, has pledged never to take for granted the goodwill and unwavering support of Northern Nigeria, particularly its youth, towards his leadership.
Speaking at the North-West Consultative Meeting in Kano State on Thursday, ahead of the NYCN National Elective Congress scheduled for September 19–22, 2025, Sukubo acknowledged that the North has been pivotal to his rise and achievements as leader of the country’s apex youth body.
“I cannot take your goodwill and support for granted. That is why I am here today appealing for your support and mandate once again,” Sukubo told delegates, stressing that since joining NYCN, Northern Nigeria has been his “pillar of strength.”
The meeting, hosted by the Kano State chapter of NYCN in collaboration with the state government, drew top stakeholders including representatives of government, members of the National Executive Committee, Board of Trustees, Advisory Council, state chairmen from the zone, zonal leaders, and affiliated Voluntary Youth Organizations (VYOs).
Sukubo highlighted that the recent revalidation of affiliated VYOs—an exercise long avoided by past NYCN administrations due to fears of crisis—was a deliberate move to show appreciation to Northern Nigeria.
He explained that the bold reform aligned NYCN with its constitution and CAC regulatory standards, boosting credibility and legitimacy.
“Many NYCN presidents avoided revalidation because it often led to crises that removed them from office. I took the bull by the horns and made it happen. Today, the North-East has 18 VYOs, the North-West 35, and the North-Central 31,” he said.
He further pledged to consolidate and surpass the gains of his first term if given a fresh four-year mandate, noting that much of his work in and outside NYCN, including private ventures, revolves around the North, where many of his appointees also hail from.
Meanwhile, Kano State’s Commissioner for Youth and Sports Development, Mustapha Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso, commended Sukubo’s passion for youth empowerment, assuring that the state is committed to partnering with the NYCN and other stakeholders to harness its large youth population for development.
At the end of the consultative meeting, stakeholders from the North-West unanimously passed a vote of confidence on Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf and Amb. Sukubo’s leadership, while pledging to deliver all delegates’ votes from the zone in his favor at the forthcoming congress.
