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🇳🇬 Nigeria /Culture & Society

City boy movement coordinator debunks low turnout claims in Edo

From The Punch · (4m ago) English

Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

TLDR

  • Dr. Paddy Iyamu, Edo State Coordinator of the City Boy Movement, denied claims of low turnout at a recent empowerment program.
  • He stated that only 6,000 beneficiaries were invited to the 14,000-capacity stadium to prevent a stampede, citing a past incident in Owerri.
  • The program, spearheaded by Seyi Tinubu, aims to provide economic empowerment across the South-South region, distributing items like deep freezers and sewing machines.

Dr. Paddy Iyamu, the Edo State Coordinator for the City Boy Movement, has firmly refuted claims suggesting a low turnout at the organization's recent empowerment program. Addressing the issue directly, Iyamu clarified that the perceived lack of a full stadium was a deliberate safety measure, not an indicator of political rejection or lack of interest.

There are some speculations that the stadium was not filled to capacity because Edo people rejected the APC; that is a big lie. The stadium is a 14,000-seat capacity edifice, and the beneficiaries were 6,000, and there is no way 6,000 people will fill a 14,000 seating capacity.

— Dr Paddy IyamuThe Edo State Coordinator of the City Boy Movement dismissed claims of low turnout, explaining the capacity management at an empowerment event.

Iyamu explained that inviting only 6,000 beneficiaries to the 14,000-capacity Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium was a strategic decision to avert the kind of dangerous stampede that occurred in Owerri, Imo State. This proactive approach underscores the movement's commitment to ensuring the safety and well-being of participants while efficiently distributing essential empowerment items.

The initiative, championed by Seyi Tinubu, is designed to foster genuine economic empowerment across the South-South geopolitical zone. Beneficiaries, selected from Edo, Delta, Rivers, and Bayelsa states, are receiving a diverse range of items, including deep freezers, sewing machines, buses, tricycles, laptops, hairdressing kits, and wheelchairs. This broad scope of support highlights the movement's dedication to uplifting individuals from various backgrounds, including those with disabilities.

We did that because we didn’t want a repeat of what happened in Owerri. It is better we have a decent empowerment programme than having a programme that will be stampeded and the purpose defeated.

— Dr Paddy IyamuDr Paddy Iyamu further explained the safety reasons behind limiting the number of beneficiaries at the empowerment program.

The City Boy Movement, as articulated by the Minister of State for Youth Development, Ayodele Olawande, aims to bridge the gap between leadership and young Nigerians. By strategically positioning youth within governance and nation-building efforts, the movement seeks to empower the next generation and foster inclusive development. The distribution of tangible assets is a concrete manifestation of this broader vision, promising to enhance livelihoods and contribute to economic growth.

The Minister of State for Youth Development, Ayodele Olawande, on Friday said the City Boy Movement was designed to bridge the gap between leadership and young Nigerians.

— The PUNCHA report from The PUNCH highlights the stated objective of the City Boy Movement.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by The Punch. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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