CONSTITUTION OF THE (AYCSN) ALUMNI YOUNG CATHOLIC STUDENTS OF NIGERIA

PREAMBLE

We the Alumni Young Catholic Students of Nigeria (AYCSN) motivated by our zeal for fostering the YCS apostolate desirous of propagating the Catholic Faith through the YCS pedagogy from which we have benefited greatly and having established a network of products of YCSN do come together to and hereby make for ourselves this constitution. The provision of which shall be binding on all members.

SECTION ONE (1) - TITLE. MOTTO, LOGO, and SLOGAN.

1.1    TITLE: This   body shall   be known   and   called Alumni Young Catholic Students (AYCS).
1.2    MOTTO: The motto of AYCS shall not differ from the YCSN motto, i.e.      See, Judge and Act otherwise referred to Action-Reflection-Action.
1.3 LOGO: The logo of AYCS is as shown below:
_
1.4     SLOGAN:        Once a YCSer: Always a YCSer.

SECTION TWO (2) - AIMS AND OBJECTIVES OF AYCS.

2.1    To help Former YCSers continue living the YCS pedagogy: See, Judge and Act - hence knowing, preserving and living the catholic faith.
2.2   To foster the spread of the YCS in Nigeria.
2.3   To assist the   officials   of the YCS   in   organizing   YCS   National   day,   National Conventions and other YCS programmes as requested by the YCSN Team.
2.4   To provide a resource base for the incumbent leadership of the YCS at various levels.
2.5   To assist the YCSN in realizing her aims and objectives as enshrined in her constitution.
2.6   To see to the spiritual and temporal welfare of all her members.
2.7   To liaise and relate with the Pan African Network of Former YCSers
2.8   To Co-operate mutually with other organizations with similar aims and objectives.
2.9   To create a forum for mutual interaction between former YCSers.

SECTION THREE (3) - MEMBERSHIP OF AYCS

3.1       There shall be four (4) categories of membership, namely:
Full members
Associate members
Honorary members
Transitional members
3.2.1    Full Membership is opened to all former YCSers - ex-students, chaplains, religious and lay animators.
3.2.2   Associate membership is open to spouses of former YCSers who belong to AYCS
3.2.3   Honorary members are members admitted into the body by virtue of their love and assistance to the movement or the Nigerian YCS.
3.2.4   Transitional members: former YCSers who are still looking forward to furthering their education at tertiary level.

In all, every category of membership is open to Catholics only. Prospective members must accept to abide by the spirituality and tenets of the movement. Membership of the AYCS is from the Parish/Diocesan level.

3.3 CONDITION FOR NEW MEMBERS: New members are expected to be under probation during which they must attend at least three AYCS meetings consecutively and if absent from one must be with cogent excuse.
3.4 REGISTRATION: Registration levy for new members is as determined by the various dioceses or as may be determined by the National Executive Council.
3.5 Monthly/Quarterly/Annual dues shall be as determined by the individual dioceses.

SECTION FOUR (4) - STRUCTURE OF AYCS

4.1   ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE
4.1.1   National Executive Committee: The National Exco shall be made up of the National officers, the National Chaplain and Co-opted members.
4.1.2 National Council: Shall consist of the national executive committee, Diocesan presidents, Secretaries and chaplains, chairmen of committees, patrons and matrons of AYCS. The National Council shall be the policy making body of the association.
4.1.3 Provincial Team: This shall consist of the provincial Officers, provincial Chaplain, diocesan chaplains and diocesan Coordinators and secretaries.
4.1.4   Provincial Exco: The Provincial Exco shall be made up of the provincial chaplain, the provincial executives and co-opted members.
4.1.5 Diocesan Team: This shall comprise of the Diocesan Chaplain, Diocesan Excos, Deanery/Area/Parish Coordinator and secretaries.
4.1.6   Diocesan Exco: This shall consist of the Diocesan Chaplain and the diocesan officers.
4.1.7   Diocesan Lay Animator: This shall be a renowned catholic with high knowledge of the YCS who is also very committed to the cause of the YCS movement. He/She must have been a YCSer. There may be animators at parish levels too.

4.2 Matrons and Patrons shall be practicing Catholics chosen to support AYCS spiritually, morally, financially and otherwise

4.3 LEADERSHIP STRUCTURE
The day-to-day running of the organization shall rest on National Exco. There shall be
the following National Officers namely
i)         National Coordinator
ii)         Deputy National Coordinator
iii)        Secretary General
iv)        Director of Finance
v)         Publicity/Assistant Secretary
vi)        Director of Socials (DOS)
vii)       National Chaplain.

4.3.1 PROVINCIAL AND DIOCESAN STRUCTURE
Shall be as prepared by each Province/Diocese and subject to ratification by the National Council
4.4      FUNCTIONS OF THE EXECUTIVES

4.4.1    NATIONAL CO-ORDINATOR
The National Co-ordinator
Shall  be  in  charge  of the  day-to-day  running  of the  affairs  of AYCS nationwide.
Shall preside over meetings of AYCS.
Has the authority to fix and call for emergency meetings when necessary
Has the right to make appointments where need be but subject to the ratification of the EXCO with the chaplain,
Has the right to delegate function(s) to members,
Be one of the signatories to AYCS account,
Shall approve expenditure with his AYCS executive members and counter sign vouchers and documents of AYCS including minutes,
Shall prepare agenda for meetings in consultation with the secretary and chaplain,
Shall lead delegates of AYCS at higher council meetings and other meetings of the church.

4.4.2   DEPUTY NATIONAL CO-ORDINATOR
The Deputy National Co-ordinator
Shall assist the National Coordinator in the execution of all his duties with exception of 4.4.1 (vi) above and in his absence preside over the activities of the Alumni.
Shall Co-ordinate projects of the Alumni.

4.4.3   SECRETARY GENERAL
The National Co-ordinating Secretary shall
i. Be responsible for taking minutes at meetings and handle all correspondence of AYCS.
ii. Sign all adopted minutes of meetings along with the Co-ordinator.
iii. Issue circulars when the need arises.
iv. Present annual report of AYCS at the last meeting of the year,
v. Keep attendance record.
vi. Perform all secretarial functions as may be assigned to him by the Chairman,
vii. Assist in preparing agenda for meetings,
viii. Keep an inventory of AYCS properties,
He shall be signatory to the Association's account.

    DIRECTOR OF FINANCE
The Director of Finance shall
Keep all financial records of AYCS and maintain the books of accounts.
Be responsible for the collection of levies and dues from members.
Prepare and present financial report once in every four months and when need be.
Hand over all financial records to any appointed auditor when need arises.
Keep AYCS pass books/Cheque books.
Keep an impress account as shall be approved by the executives subject to ratification by Council.
Bank all monies realised within 72 hours of receipt of such monies and issue proper documented receipts.
Make disbursement of money on behalf of AYCS as may be authorised by the National Co-ordinator.

4.4.5 PUBLICITY/ASST. SECRETARY
The Public/Assistant Secretary shall
Keep the Chaplain, Patrons, Matrons and others informed of the activities of the alumni.
Publicize the meetings of the alumni,
Work closely with the National Co-ordinator to represent the organization appropriately in all ramifications.

4.4.6 DIRECTOR OF SOCIALS
I.         Be in charge of all special arrangement at the alumni's functions.
II.        Arrange/organise all special functions of the alumni.
III.       Chair the social committee if any.
IV.       Shall be responsible for keeping membership data and ensuring contact with members.
V.        Shall address all matters relating to members welfare.

4.4.7     NATIONAL CHAPLAIN
i. The National Chaplain shall be the spiritual director of the Alumni.
ii.     The YCSN chaplain shall be the chaplain of AYCS. He shall be a signatory to the account of AYCS but may delegate this power in writing to another person - e.g.: Assistant Chaplain or religious assistant or patron.
iii.        Shall be the liaison between AYCS and the church hierarchy.
Shall co-ordinate all provincial and diocesan chaplains and assistants.

4.4.8 PROVINCIAL & DIOCESAN CHAPLAINS: There shall be the Provincial and diocesan Chaplain, his curate or religious assistant guiding AYCS at the diocesan levels. Shall be signatory to AYCS account at Provincial/Diocesan level unless where he formally delegates this function to any of his assistants.

SECTION FIVE (5) – ELECTION

FREQUENCY: Elections shall be held every four (4) years. A member may be re-elected to the same post for one additional term only.

ELIGIBILITY TO CONTEST:
i. The candidate must be an active and a financial member of AYCS.
ii.        The diocese of the contestant must be financially up to date,
iii.        Candidate must have been attending national meetings for the last two years,
iv.        Must be practising Catholics
v.        Candidates shall obtain a recommendation letter from his/her Diocesan Chaplain.

5.3 ELIGIBILITY TO VOTE
i.         Delegates must satisfy section 5.2 i. and ii.
ii.         Delegates must have attended two national meetings within the outgoing two years.

5.4 ELECTORAL COLLEGE:  Electoral College will be formed for the purpose of election.
5.4.1    It shall consist of four (4) representatives from each registered diocese.
5.4.2   It shall be responsible for nomination and voting.

5.5      MODE OF ELECTION: Election shall be by open-secret ballot.

5.6      RETURNING OFFICER
5.6.1   The returning officer shall oversee the conduct of election and can only vote to break a tie.
5.6.2   The returning officer shall be AYCS Chaplain or his official delegate.

5.7      Those under suspension cannot vote or be voted for.

5.8 BYE ELECTION
5.8.1 A bye election shall be conducted if the incumbent officer vacates voluntarily or is removed.
5.8.2   If an officer losses his or her seat as a result of gross misconduct.
5.8.3   If an officer dies.
5.8.4   Qualification for a bye election is the same as that of full election.

SECTION SIX (6) - PATRONS AND MATRONS

Shall be appointed by the general house and names submitted to the chaplain for confirmation and ratification

6.2      QUALIFICATION FOR PATRONS AND MATRONS
Such persons must
Have proven interest in the welfare of AYCS.
Be wedded Catholics.
Be men and women of integrity and reputations and can come from any diocese within Nigeria.

SECTION SEVEN (7) – MEETINGS

7.1 National Council meetings shall be held twice in a year (about the month of March and October).
7.2 Executive Meeting shall be held as often as it is scheduled but at least three (3) times a year.
7.3 Emergency meetings shall be called by the National Co-ordinator when the need arises.
7.4 National Convention: National convention shall hold biennially (in the third quarter of the year) and shall be rotated among the various provinces.

SECTION EIGHT (8) – DISCIPLINE

8.1 Absolute order shall be maintained during meetings.
8.2 The National Co-ordinator is empowered to recognise/call up people to speak during meetings.
8.3   No member shall use abusive words in the meeting.
8.4   There will be penalties for lateness and absenteeism as may be fixed by the Council.
8.5   Disciplinary  committee  may  be  set  up  by the  National  Council  to  handle  all disciplinary issues.
8.6 Officers are subject to Disciplinary actions as may be prescribed by the Disciplinary Committee whose membership must include a chaplain.
8.7 Disciplinary actions for gross misconduct, corrupt practices and financial crimes shall include but not restricted to suspension and impeachment.

SECTION NINE (9) – FINANCE

9.1 REVENUE
9.1.1 Dioceses shall pay annual subscription to the National Body as may be established by the National Council.
9.1.2 Dioceses shall pay an amount as approved by the National Council as registration fee subject to review after every three years.
9.1.3 Free will donations/levies shall be carried out/imposed by the executives from time to time.

9.2 BANKING
9.2.1 Our bankers shall be any Bank(s) as may be decided from time to time by the National Team.
9.2.2 Our account name shall be: Alumni Young Catholic Students of Nigeria (AYCSN).

9.3 WITHDRAWALS
9.3.1 The Signatories to the account shall be the Chaplain, the National Coordinator, the Secretary and the Director of finance. However, two out of the Four can sign in the absence of one with the chaplain being the principal signatory.
9.3.2   Changes in signatories shall be communicated to the bank by the secretary general with the approval of the EXCO and ratification effected immediately.

SECTION TEN (10) - MEMBERS WELFARE

10.1 Only active and financial members are entitled to welfare packages.
10.2 Except otherwise decided by the National Council all membership welfare matters are to be handled by the Diocesan Body. However, if the matter involves a National Officer, Chaplain, Religious Assistant or Patron/Matron, the welfare officer of the movement in conjunction with the EXCO shall address it.

10.3 ELEVATIONS: members who gain admission for further studies, or win laurels or promotions in places of work or in competitions shall receive special formal commendations from AYCS.

10.4 BENEFITS TO CHAPLAIN, LAY ANIMATOR, SPIRITUAL DIRECTORS, PATRONS AND MATRONS:
10.4.1 Members shall assist in their ceremonies if AYCS is formally invited.
10.4.2 They benefit as members in Article 10.1 - 3
10.4.3 Shall receive special greetings and/or gifts during birthdays and/or anniversaries where possible.

SECTION ELEVEN (11) - SOCIAL ACTIVITIES

11.1 GAMES, PICNICS, COMPETITIONS and other social events shall be organised from time to time.

SECTION TWELVE (12) - SUPREMACY OF THE CONSTITUTION

12.1 This constitution is supreme and its provision binding on all persons and authorities in AYCS.
12.2 AYCS shall not be governed in any other way by any person or group of persons except in accordance with the provisions of this constitution.
12.3   Provinces/Dioceses may have their own bye-laws.
12.4 Resolutions and decisions at the national level supersede those of any other group under AYCSN.

SECTION THIRTEEN (13) – AMENDMENT

13.1 An amendment of any part of this constitution or whole must follow these procedures:
13.1.1 A formal motion moved by 3 financial members supported by at least two third (2/3) of members present at the National meeting.
13.1.2 The part to be amended shall be debated upon at Executive Council meetings and if successful shall be typed and appended to the main booklet.
13.1.3 In case of whole, a review committee shall be set up.

SECTION FOURTEEN (14) - COMMENCEMENT


14.1 This Constitution has been ratified by the National Convention meeting today 25 April, 2009 at Thomas Aquinas Major Seminary, Makurdi, Nigeria. This Constitution shall come into effect upon its endorsement by the principal officers of the Alumni as indicated below:


SIR PATRICK T. PILLAH (ksj) ARC AJAH MOSES N. (mnia)
National Coordinator National Secretary


MSGR HYPOLITE ADIGWE
National Chaplain



CONSTITUTION DRAFTING COMMITTE

1. Ajah Moses N.
2. Nwoma Romanus
3. Utor, Simon Terkimbi
4. Enock, Nyiam Abang

Chairman, Drafting Committee
Member
Member
Secretary

COMMUNIQUE OF THE ALUMNI YOUNG CATHOLIC STUDENTS OF NIGERIA (AYCSN)

Preamble

We, the entire leaders of Young Catholic Students of the diocese of Port Harcourt haven brainstormed during our leadership/re-orientation seminar organized by the Young Catholic Students Alumni body in the diocese on the 26th of October, 2013 at St Francis Parish, Rumuokwuta facilitated by Azowue Emmanuel and Uzoma Emeka with an intervention session anchored by Kelechi Agubata wherein issues on YCS history, its hierarchical structure,approaches and qualities of leadership,the task of New Evangelization and it was crowned with a worked where d following submission were made:

our findings:

1) There tend to be a communication gap between d leadership of d various youth apostolate bodies n her chaplains.

2) Adequate efforts have not been put in place to harness the insightful contributions of the membership in the various youth groups.

3. Lack of adequate fund has been a major setback in the accomplishment of laudable projects planned by d leadership of the various youth groups

4. Some youth leaders are not open to constructive criticism,hence making them to act under tension with a dictatorial tendencies

5. Some youth leaders lack the basic requisite leadership skills to pilot the task entrusted in the care thereby making their output inefficient and inadequate.

Our Recommendations:

1) we recommend that the leadership of d diocese organize a leadership summit for the leadership of all the youth groups in the diocese to engineer a proactive and productive leadership in d youth apostolate groups.

2) we recommend that the PHDAYCS continues to organized this event at least once before the annual YCS diocesan Conventions.

3) we recommend  that the New Evangelization summit be organized for all youth group at various levels wit the support of the various diocesan Chaplains. Deanery Deans/Chaplains and Parish Priest.

4) we recommend that similar programs be organized where leaders can meet with experienced leaders and share their views with each other.

5) we recommend that the various leaders at different levels have a good cordial relationship with their priests.

6) we recommend that there should be a workshop and leadership rally to awaken YCSers to pick up leadership roles

Conclusion
We are forever grateful to God Almighty for his blessings and favours; to the Bishop of the Catholic diocese of Port-harcourt for his love, care and support to the students body, the chaplain of the YCS PH diocese and the various Deanery deans and Chaplains; the Parish Priest and the entire Christ Faithful of St. Francis Parish Rumuokwuta, for accepting to host us, the National Team of YCS, the Alumni body of YCS  and all facilitators of the training.

Signed
Mr. Emeka Uzoma
Chairman, Leadership Summit Committee

Mr. Agubata Kelechi
Secretary, Leadership Summit Committee

Mr. Azowue Emma
Co-ordinator PHDAYCS

THE FAILURES OF NIGERIAN LEADERSHIP: LESSON TO THE YCS.

It is very true that Nigeria’s elite – its political, business, and intellectual leadership - has much to answer for its regard of its historical role in shaping a better Nigeria for posterity. Part of the crisis of Nigeria is elite incoherence where it matters.  But that does not erase the fact that Nigerian leadership flows from the quality of its citizenship, and thus, it is imperative to question the ‘Nigerian Mind’ – the total structure of value that generates the kind of leadership that we have circulated.
Presently, our political leaders appear incapable of critical self-examination, self-indictment and remorse, which are essentials preliminaries for restitution, self-correction and genuine social transformation.
A little reflection on the failure of leadership in Nigeria, and in Africa generally reveals that the problem is partly due to citizenry that is both unwilling and unable to demand from public officials, through creative activism, the highest levels of accountability in the discharge of their duties. As Martin Luther King Jr. would say, ‘our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter’. The case of Nigeria is compounded by ethnic cleavages and divisive religious affiliations, which are exploited by politicians from their own selfish interests. Malcolm X once said, ‘you are not to be so blind with patriotism that you can’t face reality. Wrong is wrong, no matter who does it or says it’. We have a blind slide; we support our respective tribe, state or faith to the hilt no matter how bad things are. This has been the undoing of us.
There is no doubt that the decline in adherence to appropriate values by our people is the fundamental provenance of the maladies afflicting our country. Through acts of omission and commission, the leaders have virtually decimated institutions and traditions created for the smooth functioning of society.  Again, it is impossible for any country to progress in the right direction when a critical mass of the population fail to act in accordance with the dictates of honesty, integrity, diligence, selflessness, compassion, and patriotism. This implies that the prevailing social character in any society determines its developmental trajectory. However, social character is the concatenation relationship between the dominant character traits of individuals in a community, which are usually embodied in social institutions. Therefore, for genuine social transformation to occur the intellectual, psychological and spiritual aspects of people’s lives must be transformed first – in other words, social transformation must be preceded by change in the mentality of individuals.
Given the many challenges that has overtaken the length and breadth of the Nigerian state, so many factors have been attributed to be the causes of these crises, and chief among them is the kind of upbringing and teachings that are being imbibed on the young chaps. As some have argued, unemployment, poverty, and anger directed against an uncaring society in which safety nets for the underprivileged are disappearing are part of the aetiology of extremism violence in Nigeria. Yet I believe that the fundamental cause of all this is the kind of ideas, especially religious ideas, which parents, teachers and adults generally put into the minds of children, who then grow into adults thinking that what they had learned, is absolutely true and cannot be questioned. In other words, government officials and other people who ignore the centrality to religion in the activities of Boko Haram are just deceiving themselves. Some Muslims insist that terrorist who use Allah or relevant texts of the Holy Koran to justify evil are not true Muslims or that they are misinterpreting the scripture. Since we are still on the course to get these Boko Haram insurgents off our neck, we shall soon be told the real story of its true origin and ideological backup.
To reiterate, Nigeria is in crisis, and there are ominous signs that if appropriate actions are not taken by government, things might fall apart irretrievably. It would be wrong to put all the blame on the leadership, particularly on President Goodluck Jonathan, although, as Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, his share of it is the highest. Nevertheless, as citizens of this country, we must begin to ask ourselves fundamental questions about the role responsible citizenship can play in building a strong, united, egalitarian and prosperous society, and what we can do to actualise it.
As YCSers, we must learn not to imitate the circular leaders/politicians in their wrong style and system of leadership as that will place us in the same stead with them, hence, defeating the major aim why we converge as a movement which is, ‘Bringing Students to Christ and Christ to Students’. We must be pace setters to the wider world as evangelizers of the word to the ends of the earth which is a mission mandate given by Christ himself to his apostles transcended to us through the hierarchical order of the church.

Azowue Emmanuel
Diocesan Coordinator
YCS Alumni
Catholic Diocese of Port Harcourt

Diocesan Info

As we get set for the forthcoming national convention of the Young Catholic Students of Nigeria, in Uyo diocese,all hands will be on deck to assist the diocese as a province for a successful hosting of YCS Nigeria. In this vein,the diocesan alumni team will be embarking on deanery visitations very soon. we urge you to keep the flg fying

Shalom!

Azowue,O.E.
Diocesan Coordinator
YCS Alumni
Diocese of PH