Youth leaders from across South West, Nigeria have declared a new chapter in the fight against insecurity and social decay.
The declaration was made at a summit organized by the Coalition of Nigerian Youth on Security and Safety Affairs (CONYSSA), which aimed to unite young Nigerians against cultism, internet fraud, drug abuse, money laundering, child trafficking, and economic sabotage.
Speaking at the summit held in Osogbo, Osun state capital, Director-General of CONYSSA, Ambassador Ade Mario expressed their readiness to partner with security agencies to restore the region’s cultural decency and combat the rising tide of crime.
Mario vowed to move beyond mere advocacy and take action to restore the region’s lost glory.
According to him, “The South West used to be a beacon of cultural decency. Today, we’re seeing a dangerous shift, our youth are caught in criminal networks that didn’t define us in the past.
We have decided not to just speak up, but to serve. We’re ready to join the Police, EFCC, NDLEA, Amotekun, whatever agency necessary to restore what we’ve lost.
“Let’s end the gospel of sudden wealth. Let’s return to the values of dignity, labour, and honest gain. Our young people are gifted, they just need the right direction,” he said.
Mario noted that the initiative was birthed by six committed regional coordinators and fueled by a shared sense of urgency.
However, the President of the National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN), Comrade Solomon Adodo said that Nigeria’s development is directly tied to the moral and intellectual engagement of youth.
He said “This is not about who you know. This is about who’s ready. Once you rise with purpose, the system will respond. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has made clear his readiness to partner with Nigerian youth. But partnership begins with preparation.
We’ve reconstituted, reorganized, and re-energized the National Youth Council of Nigeria. A new order has begun, and it starts with us.”
Meanwhile, DSE Titilola Tokan-Lawal, representing the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), cautioned against the misuse of digital tools by young people, stating that today’s world, smartphones can be more dangerous than firearms, or more empowering. It all depends on how we use them
“Fraud, drug trafficking, and economic sabotage are not just crimes, they’re signs of a society losing its moral compass.”
She stressed the need for collective societal reconfiguration driven by values, not just enforcement.
Ambassador Adebisi Emmanuel, Senior Special Assistant to the Osun State Governor on Civil Society Organizations, underscored the importance of ethical leadership and the dangers of power abuse.
“Security is not only about physical protection. It’s about justice. Whether in uniform or not, those in power must lead by example, not oppress others,” he stated.
The summit saw participation from various government bodies including the Osun State Government, SSA to the Ondo State Governor on Security, and the Ogun State Commissioner for Youth. Representatives from the NDLEA, DSS, Civil Defense, and Amotekun Corps were also in attendance, demonstrating cross-sector commitment to a youth-led movement for change.
