Ijaw Youth Council Leaders Urged to Serve, Not Profit

Dr. Theophilus Alaye, the President of the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC), addressed aspirants for various positions within the council during a ceremony held in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, as part of the 2026 pre-election convention. He warned that the IYC is not a money-making venture but an organization meant to serve the Ijaw nation.

Alaye's presidency is set to conclude on July 19, 2026, and he announced the initiation of a transition process to establish a National Electoral Committee (NECOM) that will oversee the elections for the 10th National Executive Committee (NEC) of the council. He expressed confidence in the smooth electoral process and advised NECOM members to adhere to transparent electoral guidelines to ensure free, fair, and credible elections.

Alaye reiterated that aspirants should focus on serving the Ijaw nation with dignity and common interest rather than seeking financial gain, and he called for the decentralization of oil pipeline surveillance contracts to promote peace, justice, equity, stability, and progress in the Niger Delta.