The Kogi State Chapter of the National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN) Council of Elders, Stakeholders and 21 LG Forum of Coordinators has formally endorsed Babangida Onimisi Isah to contest for the position of National President of the NYCN in the forthcoming national Congress scheduled for August/September 2025.
In a communique dated June 16, 2025, and addressed to the Executive Governor of Kogi State, Alhaji Ahmed Usman Ododo, the NYCN elders,Stakeholders and 21 LG forum of Cordinators expressed their gratitude for the governor’s youth-friendly leadership and called for his moral, financial, and logistical support to ensure victory for the Kogi-born aspirant.
The endorsement follows a resolution reached at a meeting held at the Youth House in Lokoja in May 2025. The NYCN Council noted that the Northern Region is due to produce the next national president of the youth body and has unanimously adopted Babangida Onimisi Isah as their consensus candidate from kogi state.
The elders praised Alh. Ahmed Usman Ododo’s continued efforts to build on the legacy of his predecessor, Alhaji Yahaya Adoza Bello, noting that youth empowerment and inclusion have been a hallmark of his administration.
“Babangida Isah Onimisi is capable of clinching the position by the special grace of God,” the statement read, highlighting Onimisi’s past leadership roles as NYCN Coordinator in Okene LGA, Kogi Central Forum of Coordinators and as a Senior Special Assistant on Youth and Student Affairs under the previous administration. He is currently serving as SSA on Community Engagement to Governor Alh. Ahmed Usman Ododo.
The letter, signed by over ten notable former state chairmen and youth stakeholders, also called attention to the historical impact of the Kogi NYCN chapter at the national level. Notably, Ambassador Oladele John Nihi, a Kogi native currently serving as Vice President of the Pan African Youth Union and led the NYCN Congress Planning Committee with Babangida Isah as the Chairman of the Congress Committee.
The Council of Elders and Stakeholders also commended the ongoing groundwork being championed by the Honourable Commissioner for Youth and Sports Development, Comrade Monday Anyebe, whose proactive engagement is helping galvanize broad-based support across the northern region.
The Council of elders and Stakeholders appealed for the governor’s support, stating that Babangida’s victory would further enhance Kogi State’s political relevance and visibility at the national stage.
The letter was jointly signed by:
Dr. Haroun Opotu Yusuff, Pioneer State Chairman
Comrade Bala Ibrahim, Former State Chairman
Engr. S.B. Godwin, Former State Chairman
Comrade Farouq S. Mazai, Former State Chairman
Amb. Oladele Nihi John, Former State Chairman
Comrade Isreal Alonge, Former State Chairman
Abdullahi Rufai, Stakeholder
Isa Emmanuel Ojoduene, Stakeholder
Abdulrahman Idris, Stakeholder
Daniel Edoka, Chairman, Forum of 21-LGA NYCN Coordinators
They expressed confidence that with the right backing, Kogi State stands a strong chance of producing the next NYCN National President.
