Arewa Youth Consultative Council (AYCC) is an inventive initiative by young people with the determination to find solutions to the social, economic, educational, and political problems of Northern Nigeria through meaningful association.
While the creation of the 21st Century, Arewa Youth Consultative Council finds its place in the tradition of pioneer progressive Northerners who had sought to impact positively on society.
Historically, societies have been known to exist in Northern Nigeria for a long period of time. For over a thousand years, the people of the Northern States have organized themselves for the promotion of trade, religion, culture, and governance.
The roots of sociopolitical organization and activism in what is today known as Nigeria can be traced in the pioneer efforts of people like Malam Sa’adu Zungur who, at around 1940, founded the Zaria Friendly Society.
The Society succeeded in enlightening Northerners on the need to engage in politics in amalgamated Nigeria and also enroll in Western education for the sake of administration.
The struggle for the liberation of the North and equitable allocation of resources gained weight in the eve of Independence with the efforts of Northern People’s Congress, founded in 1949 as a cultural organization and later a political party, under the leadership of Sir Ahmadu Bello (Sardaunan Sokoto) and Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa. Sir Ahmadu Bello served as Premier of Northern Nigeria whereas Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa became the first and only Prime Minister of an Independent Nigeria.
At the same time, Malam Aminu Kano was heading the activities of the Northern Elements Progressive Union (NEPU) which were founded in 1950 and could be considered the first true political party in Northern Nigeria.
The journey continued down the slope from the promising years of the 1960s to the turbulent years of the 2010s where Nigeria and the North particularly, experienced the problems of political instability, insecurity, economic degradation, unemployment, and illiteracy.
With the surge of these challenges, a new platform was needed to replace Arewa on the promising pedestal. Then the Arewa Youth Consultative Council came.
Arewa Youth honors Jamilu Abdussalam charges colleagues to imitate his Skills
Through community development initiatives, sociopolitical activism, capacity building, and reorientation, AYCC seeks to educate and enlighten the people of Northern Nigeria on the possible trajectory of victory.
Youths are the target of the Council because, young people are the ones with the required energy, spirit, determination, and courage to effect the desired change in society.
Arewa Youth Consultative Council is all-inclusive, serving beyond the Hausa States, throughout the 19 Northern States. The Legacy of Sardaunan Sokoto as the then Premier reaffirmed the unity of Arewa regardless of tribe or religion. AYCC shall uphold that.
Arewa Youth Consultative Council aims at amassing the teeming population of young people in Northern Nigeria with the aim of inspiring a new generation of hope and positive action without any intention to oppress another party, politically or otherwise.
The scope of AYCC is beyond politics; it seeks for a new cultural and progressive awakening. For that reason, “Arewa” was included in the name of the Council because it is a word that the majority of Northerners can commonly relate with.
In a final note, I will like to restate that Arewa Youth Consultative Council believes in the “Unity and Progress” of Nigeria and shall work to promote it.
AYCC shall work for a better Arewa in the just and equitable manner of the forebears without promoting any tribal, religious, or political sentiments.
Long live Arewa!
God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria!
Aliyu Danladi Is Director II, Strategy And Intelligence, Arewa Youth Consultative Council (AYCC.)
