FESTAC YOUTHS MARCH FOR GOOD GOVERNANCE AS 21 ROAD YOUTH FORUM CHAMPIONS HEALTH, EDUCATION AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT

PRESS RELEASE

FESTAC YOUTHS MARCH FOR GOOD GOVERNANCE AS 21 ROAD YOUTH FORUM CHAMPIONS HEALTH, EDUCATION AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENTFESTAC YOUTHS MARCH FOR GOOD GOVERNANCE AS 21 ROAD YOUTH FORUM CHAMPIONS HEALTH, EDUCATION AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT

FESTAC TOWN, AMUWO-ODOFIN, LAGOS STATE — OCTOBER 1, 2026

Something extraordinary happened on October 1, 2026, as the streets of Festac Town, Amuwo-Odofin, came alive with a powerful demonstration of youth participation, community solidarity, health awareness, and the demand for good governance.

Under the banner of the 21 Road Youth Forum, young people took to the streets for a Health Walk for Good Governance, using the occasion of Nigeria’s 66th Independence Anniversary to promote healthy living, community development, peaceful civic engagement, and accountability in public leadership.

More than a fitness activity, the walk represented a statement of purpose: that young people can contribute meaningfully to society through constructive advocacy, humanitarian service, environmental responsibility, and responsible citizenship.

Established on May 27, 2025, the 21 Road Youth Forum has continued to promote unity, discipline, education, mutual support, and community development among young people and residents of its immediate environment.

Its message is clear: good governance is a collective responsibility, and the voices of ordinary citizens deserve to be heard.

BEYOND A HEALTH WALK: A MOVEMENT FOR COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT

The forum maintains that every community deserves responsible leadership, a clean environment, access to opportunities, and a safe atmosphere in which residents can live and thrive.

Its activities are guided by the belief that government cannot accomplish every aspect of community development without the active participation of citizens.

Consequently, the 21 Road Youth Forum encourages residents to take responsibility for their immediate surroundings, support one another, protect vulnerable members of society, and demand accountability through peaceful and constructive means.

The forum also recognises the importance of creating platforms where young people can express their concerns about governance without resorting to political violence, the destruction of public infrastructure, or other unlawful activities.

Its October 1 Health Walk therefore served as a peaceful platform for communicating the need for responsive leadership and a stronger partnership between government and the people.

HEALTHY LIVING: PUTTING THE WELL-BEING OF RESIDENTS FIRST

In keeping with the health objectives of the event, the organisers provided medical screening for blood pressure and blood sugar for adults aged 40 and above.

This initiative reflected the forum’s commitment to health awareness and preventive healthcare, particularly among residents who may not routinely undergo basic medical checks.

The organisers sought to encourage participants to prioritise their health and approach physical activities responsibly.

Adding further value to the programme was the presence of veteran actor Keppy Bassey Ekpeyong, who participated as a special guest and delivered an awareness session on colon cancer.

His contribution brought attention to the importance of cancer awareness, early detection, and informed health decisions.

Through these activities, the forum demonstrated that community development must extend beyond infrastructure and politics to include the health and general well-being of residents.

HUMANITARIAN OUTREACH: EXTENDING LOVE AND EMPATHY TO VULNERABLE CHILDREN

The 21 Road Youth Forum also demonstrated its commitment to compassion and social responsibility through visits to two care institutions serving children with additional needs.

On October 1, 2026, members of the forum visited the MORAINBOW Down Syndrome Foundation, located at 21 Road, T Close, House 2, Festac Town, Lagos, where they presented items to the children and expressed solidarity with the institution.

The visit was an opportunity to demonstrate love, empathy, and inclusion while recognising the dignity and worth of every child.

The humanitarian outreach continued on October 4, 2026, when the forum visited BETH Torrey Home for Mentally Challenged and Handicapped Children, at No. 1, Alhaji Wasiu Ogunlana Road, off Ago Palace Way, Amuwo.

During the visit, members presented items to the children and extended gestures of care and encouragement to the institution.

These visits reinforced the forum’s belief that meaningful community development must include vulnerable populations and that compassion should be expressed through practical acts of service.

For the 21 Road Youth Forum, the message is simple:

LOVE IS ENOUGH TO HEAL THE LAND.

EDUCATION: OPENING DOORS TO OPPORTUNITY

Education remains another important pillar of the forum’s activities.

The organisation has encouraged young people within its community to pursue tertiary education and develop the knowledge and skills necessary for personal advancement and meaningful participation in society.

According to the forum, it has established an educational partnership with the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints through which 36 young people have enrolled in a Brigham Young University (BYU) programme aimed at advancing their educational opportunities.

The forum views this initiative as an important step towards expanding access to learning and encouraging young people to invest in their future.

Its position is that education can help young people develop confidence, discipline, critical thinking, and the capacity to make informed decisions.

By promoting educational advancement, the forum hopes to contribute to a generation better equipped to resist destructive influences and pursue productive opportunities.

BUILDING BONDS: KEEPING YOUNG PEOPLE UNITED AND PRODUCTIVE

The 21 Road Youth Forum recognises that strong relationships and a sense of belonging can play an important role in community life.

Through organised activities, it seeks to strengthen friendships, encourage mutual support, promote responsible conduct, and create opportunities for young people to learn from one another.

The forum also places emphasis on relationships between children and adults, believing that positive community connections can help younger generations develop a stronger sense of responsibility and belonging.

One of its established traditions is the annual Children’s Day celebration held on May 27.

During the celebration, children are provided with recreational activities, games, gifts, and opportunities to interact with their peers in a supportive environment.

The initiative is designed to give children a sense of inclusion while encouraging friendships and positive relationships that can endure as they grow older.

The forum also promotes sporting activities as a means of encouraging friendship, teamwork, discipline, sportsmanship, sponsorship opportunities, and peaceful interaction among young people.

It believes that productive engagement can help create alternatives to drug abuse, criminal activities, and other harmful social behaviours.

ENVIRONMENTAL CLEANLINESS: A SHARED RESPONSIBILITY

The forum’s commitment to community development also includes environmental sanitation and beautification.

It encourages residents to participate in cleaning their surroundings, maintaining their streets, and promoting a healthier living environment.

According to the organisation, environmental responsibility should not be left entirely to public authorities. Residents also have a role to play in protecting the places where they live, work, and raise their families.

Through community participation, the forum hopes to encourage cleaner surroundings, stronger neighbourhood relationships, and greater pride in Festac Town.

Its environmental vision includes community beautification, improved aesthetics, and the promotion of healthier living conditions.

A PEACEFUL CALL FOR GOOD GOVERNANCE

The central message of the October 1 Health Walk was the need for good governance and greater accountability from public officeholders.

The forum believes that citizens should be able to ask questions about public spending, community projects, poverty alleviation, employment opportunities, healthcare, education, and other issues that affect their daily lives.

It also recognises that freedom of expression is essential to a functioning democracy, while acknowledging that citizens may sometimes have legitimate concerns about the consequences of speaking out.

Rather than turning its concerns into confrontation or destructive political activity, the 21 Road Youth Forum chose a peaceful public walk to communicate its position.

The organisation’s message is that civic participation should be constructive, peaceful, and focused on solutions.

It calls for greater attention to the needs of communities, transparent use of public resources, and stronger accountability in the delivery of public services.

The forum also acknowledges President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s public emphasis on citizens holding their representatives accountable. It maintains that this principle should translate into sustained citizen engagement and measurable attention to community needs.

For the forum, good governance is not merely a political slogan. It concerns the everyday realities of residents: the condition of their roads, the cleanliness of their environment, access to education and healthcare, opportunities for young people, and the protection of vulnerable citizens.

THE LEADERSHIP BEHIND THE INITIATIVE

The 21 Road Youth Forum is led by an executive team committed to promoting unity, responsible citizenship, and community development.

The executive members are:

• Alimi R. Adebowale — President
• Nkanga E. Harry — Vice President
• Sunday O. Arewa — Secretary
• Chidebe D. Nwachukwu — Treasurer

Under their leadership, the forum seeks to sustain programmes that bring residents together, encourage positive youth engagement, and promote a shared responsibility for the future of the community.

OCTOBER 1: A LEGACY FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS

For the 21 Road Youth Forum, October 1, 2026, was more than a date on the national calendar. It was an opportunity to bring together young people, children, adults, and elders around shared concerns about health, education, compassion, environmental responsibility, and good governance.

The Health Walk demonstrated how community associations can use peaceful civic engagement to draw attention to important issues while promoting practical initiatives that directly benefit residents.

From medical screenings and cancer awareness to educational advancement, children’s activities, environmental sanitation, sports, and humanitarian outreach, the forum’s programmes reflect a broad understanding of community development.

The organisation hopes that the initiative will inspire other roads, communities, local government areas, and states to explore peaceful ways of encouraging responsible citizenship and constructive dialogue with public authorities.

Its vision is to build a community where young people are supported, children are protected, vulnerable residents are remembered, education is encouraged, and public leadership remains accountable to the people.

The 21 Road Youth Forum’s message to Festac Town and beyond is unequivocal:

Good governance begins with an informed and active citizenry. Community development begins with collective responsibility. And a better future begins when ordinary people choose to work together for the common good.

21 ROAD YOUTH FORUM

Promoting Healthy Living. Building Stronger Bonds. Empowering Youths. Advocating Good Governance.

LOVE IS ENOUGH TO HEAL THE LAND.