• Pledges enhanced investment in youth devt
By Ojotule Romanus
Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo, has stated the need for greater collaboration between Kogi State Government and youths to boost the fight against insecurity and other forms of criminality bedevilling the area.
Governor Ododo made the appeal while addressing a crowd of youths at the just concluded Kogi State Youth Security Summit, themed, ” Building a Secured Kogi Together: Empowering Youth as the First Line of Peace and Community Security”, held in Lokoja.
Related News
Governor Ododo used the forum to advocate for synergy between the government and and younger generations in the ongoing efforts to building a more vibrant and secure kogi state.
He acknowledged that his administration recognizes youths as the primary stakeholders in the future of the state, just as it also sees them as the most essential partners in building a better society for all.
He went on to note that part of his administration’s strategy of building a secured Kogi relies heavily on the active participation of the younger generation in government.
His words, “Security is not just about guns, but about education, employment, technology, economic empowerment and inclusion. When we talk about security, we must also talk about the conditions that make people vulnerable to insecurity. We must talk about what gives a young person the confidence to choose hope over crime, productivity over violence and a meaningful future over the temporary attraction of criminality. That is why the youth must be at the centre of every serious conversation about security. A society that wants lasting peace must first secure the future of its young people.
” We cannot achieve sustainable security until we thrust the youth to the centre of the security architecture. It is not going to be all about arms and ammunition. It is going to be about technology. It is going to be about jobs. It is going to be about economic expansion, opportunity and inclusion. Our conversation on security will never be complete until we bring the youth to the table”. The Governor pointed out.
According to him, the greatest resource of any society is it’s people, stressing that, within that resource lies the enormous energy, creativity, intelligence and courage of the youth.
He emphasised that When these energy is properly directed, it becomes an engine of development and when it is neglected, it can become vulnerable to manipulation by criminal and destructive forces.
“Our responsibility as a government is therefore to create an environment where young people can deploy their energy positively, acquire the skills they need and become active contributors to the progress of society. We must give our young people reasons to believe in themselves and reasons to believe in their country.
“This is why our administration has made education one of the pillars of our development agenda. Our free and compulsory education policy is not simply an education policy. It is also a security policy. Every child who remains in school is a child whose future is being protected. Every young person who acquires knowledge, discipline and skills is better positioned to make productive choices. When we educate our young people, we do more than give them certificates. We strengthen families, strengthen communities and ultimately strengthen the State” . He added.
Governor Ododo said his administration is equally investing in economic opportunities.in view of the fact that unemployment, exclusion and insecurity are closely connected.
“A young person who has a productive means of livelihood has a stake in the peace and stability of his community. That is why we are opening opportunities in agriculture, mining, technology, entrepreneurship, industry and other sectors of the economy. Our objective is to ensure that the energy of our young people finds expression in productivity, enterprise and innovation. A certificate must find an opportunity to become a livelihood, and talent must find a platform on which it can flourish” he further added..
In addition, he said that the transformation taking place across Kogi State was also part of his administration’s broader development and security strategy and that the development of infrastructure, the expansion of agriculture, the promotion of responsible mining, the Ajaokuta Free Trade Zone and other economic initiatives were designed to create an economy that can accommodate the dreams, talents and aspirations of the young people.
Ododo used the forum to commend the leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, for pursuing policies that seek to expand the productive capacity of the nation while confronting the security challenges as well, just as he emphasised that ” Nigeria is moving forward because we have a President who did not become a leader by accident. He is deliberate and intentional about taking the nation to the next levels”.
Governor however said the youth organisations also have a critical role to play, “Student organisations, youth associations and other platforms through which young people organise themselves must become instruments for peace, leadership development, civic responsibility and community mobilisation. With support comes responsibility. We expect youth leaders to build bridges, encourage dialogue and discourage violence”.
“Your platforms must inspire young people to pursue education, entrepreneurship, lawful employment and productive engagement. Leadership is not simply the ability to speak for young people; it is the responsibility to lead them towards a better future”. He equally stated.
The Governor reaffirmed his Administration’s zero-tolerance policy towards kidnapping, banditry , and communal unrest, while urging youths to reject tribal and religious division which he described as tools often used by criminals to disrupt the peace and unity of the state.
Governor Ododo assured that his administration would continue to support the security agencies and strengthen the institutional architecture required to keep Kogi State safe, create lawful pathways through which young people can contribute to peace and community safety.
Earlier in his address, the state Commissioner of Youth and Sports Development, whose Ministry collaborates with the state chapter of the National Youth Council of Nigeria ( NYCN), Hon. Monday Ayebe , desclosed that plans were in the pipeline to establish Youth Peace Ambassadors across the 21 Local Government Areas of the state.
According to him, the innitaitivs would go a long way to strengthen collaboration between young people and security agencies while promoting peaceful coexistence and community participation in security management.
In his contributions, the key note Speaker, Chief Yusuf Abiona , Managing Director and CEO of Hay Bravo Security Limited, called for stronger partnership between youths, communities and security agencies.
He advocated for the establishment of effective early-warninig systems, improved information sharing and sustained youth empowerment as measures to prevent security threats and strengthen community resilience.
