Youth Organisations under the protection of Coalition of Youth Groups in Nasarawa State have thrown their weight behind the re-election bid of Engr. Abdullahi Sule in the 2023 Governorship polls.
Arising from a joint-meeting shortly after observing the National Youth Day Celebration held at the Ibrahim Abacha Youth Centre, Lafia, on Tuesday, where they issued a Communiquẹ̀, representatives of the various Youth Organisations disclosed that they were pleased with the way and manner in which Governor Abdullahi Sule is piloting the affairs of the State, especially his relentless effort in giving youth a sense of belonging and a credible place in his administration.
Speaking on behalf of the delegation to the Government House, in Lafia, State’s Chairman of the National Youth Council of Nigeria, NYCN, Comr. Ja’afar Mohammed Loko, noted that the Groups had taken cursory assessment and appraisal of the performance of Governor Abdullahi Sule, three-and-a- half years into his administration, and his imprints on the lives and welfare of youth of the State, and had arrived at a consensus to support the continuation in office of the Governor till 2027 to enable him fulfil his mandate to the citizens and State in general.
Among others, the Coalition applauded the Governor for approving the celebration of the day in the State, for appointing young people into various areas of his administration, and for creating programmes and policies that have direct impact on the youth which continue to improve their welfare and place them at par with their counterparts around the Nigerian State, with references to the recently signed Nasarawa State Youth Revolving Funds Scheme in collaboration with the Bank of Industries; recruitment of youth as teachers into various Secondary and Tertiary Institutions across the State; establishment of the Wing Commodore Abdullahi Ibrahim Skills Acquisition Centre, and employment into the Nasarawa State Investment and Development Agency (NASIDA) and Human Capital Development.
However, the Coalition appealed for upgrades of Youth Centres and Skills Acquisition Centres across the State to meet acceptable and best standards so that more youth can benefit from the facilities and initiatives and for revenue generation.
They equally appealed to the Governor to append his assent on the Bill for the establishment of Nasarawa State Youth Development Commission and Implementation of the Sustainable Youth Policy once it is submitted to him by the State House of Assembly.
While praying for the success of the Sule-led administration, the Coalition urged their fellow youth to live in peace with one another and be peace ambassadors across boards for the growth and progress of the State.
Nasarawa State Commissioner for Youth and Sports Development, Amb. Lucky Isaac Yargwa, led the Coalition to the Governor.
Senior Special Assistant to Governor Abdullahi Sule on Youth Affairs, Hon. Shuaibu Sani, had earlier addressed the Governor and congregation on the roles of the youth in State building.
A five-day programme with line-up of activities, including Youth Interactive Session, Jumma’at and Sunday Service Prayers, was held on Friday in Keffi, Lafia and Akwanga, respectively, before the climax of the programme on Tuesday.
Earlier at the Town hall meeting on Tuesday, which had the theme, “Breaking The Barriers To Meaningful Participation And Inclusion In Advocacy”, Commissioner for Youth and Sports Development, Amb. Lucky Isaac Yargwa, commended youth of the State for celebrating the day.
He also applauded them for supporting the Governor Abdullahi Sule’s administration to ‘Exceed All Expectations’, assuring them that Government would continue to lend necessary supports to youth of the State to enable them lead a better life and compete favourably with their counterparts around the globe.
Yargwa called on youth to take advantage of the various empowerment opportunities created by the Sule-administration to make them become self-reliant, employers of labour and equally contribute their quota to their families and State at large.
The Commissioner advised youth to shun acts capable of destroying their future and embarrass their families and State, calling on them to mobilize support for the re-election of Governor Abdullahi Sule so they could enjoy more dividends of democracy.
Among the participating Youth Organizations were the National Youth Council of Nigeria(NYCN), Nigeria Youth Parliament(NYP), Youth Assembly of Nigeria(YAN), Nigeria Youth Congress(NYC), Youth Presidents of Ethnic Nationalities, Christian Association of Nigeria(CAN, Youth Wing), Jama’atu Nasril Islam(JNI, Youth Wing), Nasarawa State Students’ Association (NASSA), National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), and Nasarawa State Social Media Influencers.
Recall that Nigeria’s President, Muhammadu Buhari, in 2020, set aside November 1 of each year as National Youth Day to commemorate and celebrate young people’s views and initiatives on a national scale, and their contributions to the growth and development of the Nigerian society.
The day also provides opportunity for young people to draw Government’s and other institutions’ attention to issues affecting them, and seek proper avenues to address them.
