The Ijaw Youth Council was founded in Kaiama, Bayelsa State on the 11th day of December, 1998 during a period of Intense activism and agitation for the rights of the Niger Delta people, with Dr. Felix Tuodolo as pioneer president.
The IYC emerged as a response to the longstanding grievances over environmental degradation, economic marginalization and political disenfranchisement faced by the Ijaw people and other communities in the oil rich Niger Delta.
The IYC was established following the Kaiama Declaration, a document that articulated the demands of the Ijaw people for greater control over their natural resources, environmental protection and self determination.
Today the IYC continues to be a vocal advocate for Ijaw people and Niger delta, engaging in dialogues with government and stakeholders to address the ongoing challenge of the region.
The Ijaw Youth Council Worldwide currently led by Sir Jonathan Lokpobiri as president remains a key player in the socio-political dynamics of Nigeria, particularly in the context of the Niger Delta's ongoing struggles for environmental justice and resource control.