UK Youth boss to help shape government’s Covid commemoration plans
Joe Lepper
Thursday, August 4, 2022
UK Youth chief executive Ndidi Okezie has been named as one of 11 members of a commission set up by the government to develop plans to commemorate the impact of the Covid pandemic.
The commission is headed by former education secretary and Conservative peer Nicky Morgan and will focus on planning UK wide events to mark the health crisis.
This will report to the Prime Minister in March 2023 and have a focus on involving bereaved families and the devolved governments. It also pledges to engage with the public around its plans.
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Interview – Ndidi Okezie, chief executive, UK Youth
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Recognise Covid errors for next pandemic response
Joining Okezie on the commission is Caroline Flint, who was a minister during the Labour government, for Europe, employment and housing among other areas.
Okezie said she is “humbled” to serve on the commission, adding “it’s my aim to ensure that the experiences of a wide diversity of young people are truly part of this endeavour”.
I’m humbled to have been asked to serve on the UK Covid Commemoration Commission. It’s my aim to ensure that the experiences of a wide diversity of #youngpeople are truly a part of this endeavour & I look forward to partnering with others to do this. 🙏🏾https://t.co/ru5jkdpdX7 pic.twitter.com/JUBUIFFGyZ
— Ndidi Okezie🦋 (@Ndidi1st) August 3, 2022
Morgan added: “The commission will lead a UK-wide conversation, hearing from those that lost loved ones and those that contributed so much to the UK wide response - volunteering at vaccination centres, looking out for neighbours and working on the frontlines of the NHS, social care and other essential services including food supply and transport.
“The commission will hear from people across the UK to shape how we can reflect and remember this extraordinary moment in our collective history.”
The government has stressed it is separate from the independent Covid-19 public inquiry, which will probe the government’s response to the pandemic. Campaign group Covid-19 Bereaved Families for Justice had long called for this inquiry to be set up to ensure lessons are learned from how ministers responded.
Latest figures show that approximately 180,000 people in the UK have died during the pandemic.
