Int'l. Youth Day 2022: Kogi NYCN advocates youth inclusion in governance, commends Gov. Bello »

The NYCN Kogi State Chapter, led by Amb Usman Ugohi, celebrates International Youth Day with youths from across the state at an event held at Kogi Youth House, Amusement Park Lokoja.

IYD, which is celebrated every 12th of August, is set aside as an awareness day by the United Nations to draw attention to a given set of cultural and legal issues surrounding youths. The theme for this year’s IYD “Intergenerational Solidarity, Creating a World for all Ages”, saw youths across the 21 local government areas gather to mark the day set aside for the youths.

Amb Ugochi in his opening remarks charged the youths to embrace the significance of the IYD, which the UN set aside to celebrate with the youths each year. He explained that the day is set aside for youths to participate in the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals and implored them to use the opportunity to impact their generation.

Ugochi speaking further thanked Gov. Yahaya Bello for creating an enabling environment for youths to thrive. He applauded the Gov for approving the new youth house and office for the council.

He emphasized that, while there has been significant improvement in electricity in Lokoja, the same should be channelled to other Local Governments in the state to boost youth productivity. He also challenged the government to improve water distribution throughout the state.

The Chairman said that his administration will advocate for youth participation in local government legislative councils and the state executive council to help combat the challenge of insecurity that is quietly infiltrating the state.

Speaking at the event, the Chief Host, Hon Musa Idris, the Commissioner for Youths and Sports Development, applauded youths for being law abiding and urged them to abstain from the various social vices that have plagued the demography. He cited Gov. Yahaya Bello as an example worthy to emulate.

The Rector of Kogi State Polytechnic, Dr Usman Ogbo, discussed critical issues affecting the youths of this generation in a paper presentation titled: Gov Yahaya Bello Audacity to Dare: Lessons for Nigerian Youths.

To emphasized his points, he cited various instances in Gov Yahaya Bello’s life, including his conviction to run for governor, civil service reforms, quality of leadership, his firm stance during the heat of the COVID-19 pandemic and his courage to run for president.

In his words, “Dare to do it” he charged.

The Deputy Speaker, Rt Hon. Rabiu Alfah, In his felicitation to the youths on the occasion, thanked government Bello for being youth-friendly and for always giving the youths a say in his administration. He cautioned the youths against crime and charged the youths to keep the pace because the sky will be their starting point. He challenged the youths to step up their game so as to take over the affairs of the nation.

Mrs Oluwakemi Omeiza Usman who represented the Chairman of the Osaseyi Foundation extended felicitations from Mr Osaseyi to the youths on this year’s IYD.

High point of the event was the raising of funds to renovate the dilapidated parts of the youth house building and the inauguration of the Employment and Job Creation directorate of NYCN.