The Governor of Kogi State, Alhaji Ahmed Usman Ododo, has reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to youth inclusion and empowerment by endorsing the proposed Kogi Youth Security Summit, describing young people as indispensable partners in strengthening security and driving sustainable development across the state.
The endorsement was announced on Sunday at the Government House in Lokoja when the governor received youth leaders and stakeholders. He said the proposed summit would complement the state’s security architecture by encouraging active youth participation in tackling insecurity and other forms of criminality.
Governor Ododo described the youth as the backbone of society, noting that they possess the energy, creativity and capacity needed to shape the future of Kogi State when given the right opportunities.
He said his administration has deliberately placed young people at the centre of governance through inclusive policies that encourage their participation in decision-making and implementation of government programmes.
According to the governor, the proposed Kogi Youth Security Summit will provide a platform for collaboration between youths, government and security agencies to develop practical and community-driven solutions to security challenges across the state.
Ododo also reaffirmed his support for the proposed Ododo Youth House project, assuring that it would not become another abandoned government initiative. He explained that the project would be delivered through a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) arrangement to guarantee its sustainability.
He said the Youth House is envisioned as a modern centre for innovation, leadership development and entrepreneurship, equipped with a 1,000-seat multipurpose hall, office spaces, a standard library, a children’s amusement park and other facilities designed to promote learning, skills acquisition and youth engagement.
The governor further highlighted his administration’s commitment to supporting youth organisations, revealing that the monthly subvention to the National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN), Kogi State Chapter, which had remained at ₦500,000 for more than a decade, has been increased.
He also pledged to institutionalise quarterly meetings with youth groups to strengthen communication, deepen collaboration and ensure that government remains responsive to the aspirations of young people.
Earlier, the Commissioner for Youth and Sports Development, Mr. Monday Anyebe, described the Ododo administration as youth-friendly, noting that the significant number of young people serving in the state executive council reflects the governor’s confidence in the abilities of Kogi youths.
While acknowledging the country’s prevailing economic challenges, Anyebe commended the governor for consistently paying the NYCN subvention since assuming office.
He added that the relative peace currently enjoyed in the state is the result of deliberate policies and strategic investments in security, which he described as the foundation for meaningful development.
Also speaking, the Chairman of the National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN), Kogi State Chapter, Comrade Abdurrahman Abdulmumin Enesi, praised Governor Ododo for prioritising youth development and inclusion in governance.
He appealed to the governor to appoint more competent young people into strategic government positions and expressed the council’s support for the proposed Ododo Youth House, describing it as a legacy project that would nurture future leaders.
Enesi also urged the state government to further increase the council’s monthly subvention from ₦500,000 to ₦5 million to enable it expand programmes aimed at addressing the needs and aspirations of young people across Kogi State.
The governor’s endorsement of the proposed Youth Security Summit, alongside his renewed commitment to youth-focused programmes and infrastructure, has reinforced his administration’s resolve to position young people as key stakeholders in promoting peace, security and sustainable development in Kogi State.
