Ijero Youth Development Forum — Constitution, Governance & Leadership

1.1 Name: Ijero Youth Development Forum (IYDF). 1.2 Seat: Ijero-Ekiti, Ekiti State, Nigeria. 1.3 Scope: Principal operations in Ijero-Ekiti and farm settlements; activities may extend across Ekiti State and Nigeria. 1.4 Legal Status: Non-partisan, non-profit community development organisation. Not affiliated to any political party. 1.5 Motto: “Empowering Our Youth. Building Our Town.”

2.1 Vision: A prosperous, well-governed, secure, and self-reliant Ijero-Ekiti in which every resident, regardless of age, gender, or ability, participates fully in civic and economic life. 2.2 Mission: To organise the people of Ijero-Ekiti into a credible, inclusive, and representative community development force; represent their interests; build capacities; forge strategic partnerships; demand accountability; and champion the social, economic, cultural, and technological advancement of the town. 2.3 Core Values: Open to all people 18+ regardless of gender, age, disability, religion, or status; Accountable with highest standards of transparency and financial responsibility; Equal opportunity for women and girls at all levels; Deliberate and meaningful inclusion of Persons with Disability; Forum serves Ijero-Ekiti, not personal interests; Embracing technology and new approaches to development.

3.1 Governance & Civic Engagement: Represent community interests before the LGA and all levels of government; lobby for road access; demand accountability; partner with the Ijero Development Association (IDA). 3.2 Economic Development & Entrepreneurship: Partner with private sector and government for small-scale industries, skills training and job creation, with emphasis on women and PWDs. 3.3 Culture, Tourism & Local Economy: Organise carnivals, talent showcases, enhance festivals, and maintain a digital directory of businesses, artisans, and tourist attractions. 3.4 Data, Research & Planning: Host periodic Youth Stakeholders Summits for evidence-based planning. 3.5 Partnerships: Partner with development organisations in Ekiti State and across Nigeria for collaborative development, knowledge exchange, and resource mobilisation; partner with other state and federal government agencies on beneficial programmes. 3.6 Security & Social Order: Participate in Ijero's security architecture; sensitise against drug abuse and cultism. 3.7 Social Intervention: Sanitation, security volunteering, and educational support. 3.8 Gender Equity & Disability Inclusion: Mainstream across all programmes, governance, and partnerships.

4.1 Eligibility: Open to all youths of Ijero-Ekiti origin or residence aged 18+, no upper age limit. 4.2 Categories: Active Member (registered, pays dues, full voting rights); Institutional Member (youth associations, women's groups, farmer groups, PWD groups — one rep, full voting rights); Patron & Matron (distinguished advisers, no vote); Diaspora Member (Ijero indigenes outside the state — participate but cannot hold executive office unless resident); Honorary Member (conferred by two-thirds majority of the General Assembly, no vote). 4.3 PWD Provisions: Fees may be waived/reduced; venues accessible; sign language provided at major events; PWDs encouraged to hold office; communications in accessible formats. 4.4 Rights & Obligations: Active Members may vote, stand for election (subject to Article VI), access Forum records; must pay dues, abide by this Constitution, treat all members with respect, and declare conflicts of interest.

The Forum operates a Dual-Tier Governance Model blending youthful energy with experienced wisdom. Organs in order of authority: (1) General Assembly — Supreme Governing Body; (2) Youth Executive Committee (YEC), aged 18–45 — Principal Executive Organ; (3) Senior Advisory & Oversight Council (SAOC), aged 45+ — Oversight and Wisdom Organ; (4) The Directorates — Specialised Operational Departments; (5) Standing Committees — Thematic Working Groups; (6) The Secretariat — Administrative Backbone. The General Assembly is supreme. YEC and SAOC are partners, each authoritative in their sphere. 5.1 Overriding Principles: Gender Balance — no fewer than 40% of elected positions in both YEC and SAOC held by women; Disability Representation — at least one seat per electoral cycle reserved for a PWD; Complementarity — YEC drives, SAOC guides and oversees.

6.1 General Assembly: All Active Members in good standing plus Institutional reps. Meets bi-annually; quorum one-third. Elects officers, approves budget, amends Constitution, hears appeals. 6.2 YEC (15 officers, at least 6 women; quorum 8): President, Vice President (opposite gender), General Secretary, Assistant General Secretary, Financial Secretary, Treasurer, Director of Programmes, Director of Technology & Innovation, Director of Communications & Media, Social Secretary (aged 18–40); Director of Partnerships & Advocacy, Director of Security & Social Interventions, Director of Gender & Social Inclusion (must be a woman), Director of Disability & Inclusion (reserved for a PWD), Legal Adviser (open age, non-voting). 6.3 SAOC (10 members, at least 4 women; quorum 6): Chairman, Deputy Chairman (opposite gender), Senior Advisers on Governance & Policy, Finance & Investment (co-signs transactions), Culture Heritage & Tourism, Health Education & Social Welfare, Security & Community Affairs, Gender & Women's Empowerment (must be a woman), Agriculture & Rural Economy, Representative of PWDs (reserved). Holds Joint Coordination Sessions with the YEC every quarter.

Constitutionally entrenched. Led by a Director of Gender & Social Inclusion who must be a woman (non-negotiable). Supported by the SAOC Senior Adviser on Gender and a standing committee of at least 7 members including 4 women, 1 PWD, and 1 male ally. Budget: not less than 10% of annual operational budget is constitutionally protected for DGSI programmes. 7.1 Core Functions: gender-review all programmes/budgets/partnerships; publish the Annual IYDF Gender Report Card; represent the Forum before gender-focused government bodies and women's rights organisations; advocate for CEDAW and SDG 5 implementation; coordinate intersectional programming with the DDI. 7.2 Mandated Projects: (1) She Leads Ijero Leadership Training — min. 20 graduates per cycle; (2) IYDF Women's Economic Empowerment Fair; (3) Annual GBV Awareness Campaign; (4) Girls in STEM & Technology Initiative in at least two secondary schools; (5) Annual Gender Report Card; (6) Safe Spaces Initiative; (7) Annual Gender Data Brief; (8) Women's Mentorship Network — min. two sessions per year.

Permanent organ led by a Director of Disability & Inclusion who is constitutionally required to be a Person with Disability. Supported by the SAOC Representative of PWDs. 8.1 Functions: mainstream disability inclusion across all programmes, events, and governance; advocate for full implementation of the Discrimination Against Persons with Disabilities (Prohibition) Act 2018 in Ijero-Ekiti; maintain a register (with consent) of PWDs to inform planning; ensure accessible venues, communications, and digital platforms; partner with government and private sector on inclusive employment and skills; coordinate with DGSI on women with disabilities. 8.2 Anti-Discrimination: no person shall be excluded on account of disability; derogatory remarks are a disciplinary offence; all Forum materials use respectful person-first language. 5% of the annual budget is constitutionally ring-fenced for disability inclusion.

9.1 Frequency: every two (2) years. No officer serves more than two consecutive terms in the same position. 9.2 Electoral Board: five (5) independent members appointed by the General Assembly (at least 2 women; 1 PWD where available); none contesting any position. 9.3 Voting Rights: all Active Members in good standing; Institutional reps have one vote each. 9.4 YEC Eligibility: Active Member in good standing for 6+ months; no outstanding dues; nominated by 5+ Active Members; good character; age 18–35 for Young Member roles, 18+ for open-age; must be a woman for Director of Gender & Social Inclusion; must be a PWD for Director of Disability & Inclusion. 9.5 SAOC Eligibility: 36+; nominated by 5+ Active Members; must be a woman for Senior Adviser on Gender; must be a PWD for Representative of PWDs. 9.6 Voting Method: Secret ballot. President and SAOC Chairman require absolute majority (50%+1) with run-off; other positions by simple majority. 9.7 Gender Compliance Check: Electoral Board verifies 40% minimum before results are declared final; supplementary election within 30 days if not met.

10.1 Sources: Membership fees, annual dues, event proceeds, grants, donations, contributions from government, private sector, diaspora, well-wishers, and any lawful means approved by the YEC. 10.2 Bank Account: In the Forum's name; requires joint signatures of at least two of President, Treasurer, and SAOC Senior Adviser on Finance. No single officer may operate the account alone. 10.3 Budget: Annual budget approved by the General Assembly before the financial year commences. 10.4 Protected Allocations: Not less than 10% of annual budget for DGSI programmes and 5% for disability inclusion — cannot be reduced without two-thirds General Assembly majority. 10.5 Audit: Annual audit by a qualified auditor or Audit Panel; audited accounts presented to the General Assembly yearly. 10.6 Transparency: Financial statements available to any Active Member within 7 working days of written request.

Ordinary General Assembly: bi-annually, 14 days notice. Extraordinary General Assembly: as required, 48 hours notice. YEC: monthly, quorum 8 of 15. SAOC: quarterly, quorum 6 of 10. Joint YEC-SAOC Coordination Session: quarterly. All meeting venues shall be assessed for accessibility. Virtual/hybrid participation is permitted and virtual votes are valid. Minutes are recorded, confirmed, and kept in the Forum's records.

The Forum maintains formal partnerships governed by MOUs with: Government; Private Sector; Civil Society; Traditional Institution; Ijero Development Association (IDA); Security Agencies; Media Partners; and Educational Institutions serving Ijero-Ekiti students. Note: Ijero-Ekiti is a Local Government Area (LGA).

A Disciplinary Panel of three (3) members drawn from both tiers — including at least one woman — handles all disciplinary matters. Grounds: gross misconduct; financial impropriety; dereliction of duty; discrimination on grounds of gender, disability, age, religion, or ethnicity; harassment or abuse; breach of this Constitution. Sanctions (ascending): written warning; suspension; removal from office; expulsion. Removal or expulsion requires a two-thirds majority of the relevant organ and ratification by the General Assembly. The sanctioned member has a right of appeal to the General Assembly.

Amendments may be initiated by a two-thirds (2/3) majority of the YEC or SAOC, or by a petition of one-third of Active Members. Amendments require 21 days’ notice and approval by two-thirds of Active Members present and voting at a quorate General Assembly. Entrenched provisions — the Forum's Name & Identity (Article I), Vision and Mission (Article II), the requirement that DGSI be led by a woman, the disability reservation on the SAOC, and this Amendment Article — require three-quarters (3/4) of all Active Members to amend.

The Forum may only be dissolved at an Extraordinary General Assembly convened specifically for that purpose, by a resolution of not less than three-quarters (3/4) of all Active Members. Upon dissolution, all remaining assets shall be donated to a community development, gender empowerment, or disability inclusion cause in Ijero-Ekiti and shall not be distributed among members.

16.1 Interpretation: Referred to the Legal Adviser for written opinion; final authority rests with the General Assembly. 16.2 Transitional Provisions: An Interim Governing Committee of nine (9) persons — representing both age groups, including at least three (3) women and one (1) PWD — manages the Forum for not more than six (6) months after the Founding General Assembly. 16.3 Non-Partisan: The Forum shall not campaign for, endorse, or financially support any political party or candidate; breach is a disciplinary offence. 16.4 Review Cycle: Full constitutional review every four (4) years. 16.5 Commencement: This Constitution comes into force upon adoption at the Founding General Assembly of the IYDF (27th May, 2026).