In attendance with the NBA President at this occasion were the General Secretary of the NBA; Mr. Isiaka Abiola Olagunju, the Chief of Staff to the NBA President; Mr. Muritala Abdul-Rasheed, the Executive Director of the NBA; Mrs. Ifueko Alufohai and other Senior NBA Executives. Delivering his introductory statement, the Speaker of the Nigerian Youth Parliament (NYP), Comrade Obe Ayodele said that, the NYP had come to explore the opportunity for mentorship from and partnership with the NBA, especially in areas that had to do with the rule of law. He said that; to facilitate this process, the Youth Parliament intends to create an online portal to receive and treat complaints from members of the public, especially youths who had been wronged one way or the other. He added that the NYP would also sponsor a bill in the National Assembly to promote and protect the interest of Nigerian youths as this was key to breeding respectable future leaders; emphasising that it was imperative that the development of younths in the country was not impeded. The Speaker of the NYP was accompanied on the courtesy call by the Majority Leader Kieribo Wisdom, and others including Miss Sharon Omotayo, Comrade Yakubu Ogirim and Comrade ItunuAkinmosin. The NBA President in his remarks emphasised that the Youth Parliament is a platform for leadership training, and reiterated the need for a revolutionary mindset amongst youths, who, as leaders of tomorrow, have a tremendous role to play towards national development and integration. He further noted that the youths, having a strong voice, represents the progress of the society, and assured the delegation that, “the NBA is willing to support and partner with the Youth Parliament on worthwhile exercises and programmes that will promote the rule of law as well as other areas such as providing mentorship to prepare them to be self-reliant.” Furthermore, the NBA President cautioned the youths not to see their position in the Youth Parliament as an opportunity to curry favors from politicians and other office holders, but rather, as an opportunity to pursue their professional careers and apply the leadership qualities which they acquire on the platform of the ‘Youth Parliament’ for worthwhile nation building interests. In making this admonition, Mr. Mahmoud, recalled with nostalgia his days as the General Secretary of the Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) Students Union, noting how student unions routinely reviewed the state of the nation, observing issues and problems confronting the nation, and offering possible solutions which would be forwarded to the Federal Government.]]>