By James Sani
The National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN), Kogi State Chapter, has officially inaugurated its newly elected executives in a well-attended ceremony held in Lokoja, with a renewed commitment to reposition youth leadership in the state on the path of integrity, accountability, and development.
This was contained in a statement issued by the Information Officer, Kogi State Ministry of Youth and Sports Development, James Sani and made available to The Graphic in Lokoja.
The event, which drew notable dignitaries from government and security agencies, was graced by the Commissioner for Youth and Sports Development, Honourable Aridaojo Anyebe; the Special Adviser to the Governor on Youth and Women Empowerment, Hon. Charity Ijese; Senior Special Assistants to the Governor; representatives of the Nigeria Police Force, Department of State Services (DSS), and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), among others.
Related News
Delivering his inaugural speech, the newly sworn-in NYCN State Chairman, Comrade Abdulrahaman Enesi, described his emergence as the dawn of a new era in youth leadership across Kogi State.
“Our gathering today signifies a paradigm shift, ushering in an era of growth, prosperity, and renewed hope for our youth,” he said.
“The much-anticipated ethical leadership anchored on shared values, integrity, accountability, and openness has emerged today in Kogi State. Our administration shall be highly principled and resolutely determined to change the narratives of leadership in the council.”
Comrade Enesi said the new executive has unveiled a detailed 2025-2029 strategic plan aimed at empowering young people and strengthening the council’s operational capacity across the 21 local government areas.
The planned initiatives include youth empowerment programs, community development projects, leadership and capacity-building workshops, sports and cultural promotion, and advocacy for youth-friendly policies. Others are international youth exchange programs, the construction of a Youth House complex, revenue-generation projects, and the introduction of a Code of Conduct and Ethics for all NYCN officials at state and local levels.
The Chairman commended the Governor of Kogi State, Alhaji Ahmed Usman Ododo and his predecessor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello for their investments in Kogi State’s youth, particularly the sustained monthly subventions to the council and student bodies, an initiative which he described as unprecedented.
He called on the Kogi State Government, stakeholders, and development partners to collaborate with the council in implementing these initiatives, noting that the youth remain critical to the state’s economic and social transformation.
In his goodwill message, the Commissioner for Youth and Sports Development, Honourable Aridaojo Anyebe, congratulated Comrade Enesi and the newly inaugurated executives of NYCN, urging them to justify the confidence reposed in them by their peers through service and inclusiveness.
“Your emergence is both a testament to your commitment to youth development and a call to higher responsibility,” Anyebe said.
“Leadership is not a privilege but a platform for service. When the energy and creativity of our youths are well-guided, there’s no limit to what Kogi State can achieve.”
He reaffirmed the government’s continued commitment under Governor Ododo to youth empowerment, sports development, and entrepreneurship support, noting that young people remain central to the state’s development agenda.
On her part, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Youth and Women Mobilization, Hon. Charity Ijese urged the new executive to be worthy ambassadors of Kogi State by promoting uprightness, patriotism and peaceful coexistence.
She urged the Chairman to be committed to pursuing the collective goals of Kogi state youths in line with the youth development agenda of Governor Ododo.
Representatives of the Commissioner of Police, NSCDC Commandant, and other youth and student organizations also delivered goodwill messages, commending the peaceful conduct of the election and the inclusive spirit of the inauguration.
The highlight of the ceremony was the presentation of Certificates of Induction to the newly inaugurated executives by the Commissioner for Youth and Sports Development.
