(a) Describe the organizational structure of the Nigerian Youth Movement (NYM). (b) What led to its collapse?

Answer Details

(a) Organisational structure of the Nigerian Youth Movement (NYM)

The NYM was organised as a modern political association with the following structure:

1. National officers / central leadership: At the top was a body of national officers, led by a President, supported by a Vice-President, General Secretary, Treasurer, Financial Secretary, Publicity Secretary and other officers who directed the affairs of the movement.
2. The Executive Committee (Central Executive): A national executive committee made up of the principal officers and elected members ran the day-to-day administration and took major decisions between conventions.
3. The Annual Convention / General Assembly: This was the supreme decision-making organ where delegates from the branches met to lay down policy, elect officers and adopt programmes such as the Nigerian Youth Charter.
4. Branches: The movement established branches in Lagos and in various provincial towns across Nigeria, each with its own local officers, giving it a country-wide network unlike earlier Lagos-based parties.
5. General membership: Membership was open to Nigerians who subscribed to its aims, paid dues and supported its programme; the members formed the base of the organisation.
6. Organ of publicity: The movement ran the Daily Service newspaper as its mouthpiece for spreading its ideas and mobilising support.

(b) What led to its collapse

1. The Ikoli-Akinsanya leadership crisis (1941): A bitter dispute broke out over who should fill the Legislative Council seat vacated by Kofoworola Abayomi. The contest between Ernest Ikoli and Samuel Akinsanya, and the way it was handled, split the leadership.
2. Ethnic and personal rivalry: The crisis assumed an ethnic colouring, and the withdrawal of Nnamdi Azikiwe and many of his supporters from the movement, following the dispute, dealt it a fatal blow.
3. Personality clashes and ambition: Rivalry and distrust among the leading personalities (Ikoli, Akinsanya, Azikiwe, Davies and others) destroyed the unity of the movement.
4. Disagreement over aims and strategy: Differences over methods and direction weakened cohesion.
5. Mass resignations and loss of support: The resignations that followed the crisis drained the movement of members and finance, so that it lost its influence and effectively disintegrated, paving the way for the emergence of the NCNC in 1944.