To direct the vast energy of its teeming youth population towards productive ends, the Kogi State Government is set to host a youth summit.
The State Commissioner for Youth and Sports Development, Monday Anyebe, who disclosed this in Lokoja on Tuesday while addressing journalists at a press conference, said hundreds of participants are expected at the event.
The summit that kicks off this Wednesday, 31 July 2024, has the theme, “Role of Nigerian Youth in Nation Building: Unlocking Potential, Empowering The Future”.
Anyebe explained that the summit is not just critical to the development of the State but also pivotal in shaping the future of Nigeria, given its enormous opportunities.
Describing the youth as the backbone of the society, Anyebe noted that the summit will further provide them with the necessary knowledge and inspiration needed to contribute meaningfully to the development of Kogi State, in particular, and Nigeria in general.
“As a government that is passionate about youth development through inclusiveness, the Youth Engagement Summit will be a platform for young people from diverse backgrounds to come together, share ideas, and engage in discussions on critical issues facing the nation.
“We have lined up a series of workshops panel discussions and keynote speeches by distinguished speakers who are leaders in their fields. These sessions will cover topics such as entrepreneurship, leadership, civic engagement, and sustainable development”.
He said the goal of the Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo-led administration is to empower youth in the state by unlocking their potential, and also provide them with the right opportunities and resources to turn them into agents of positive change.
The Commissioner emphasised that the summit is not just an event, but a call to action, adding that it is also an invitation for every young person in the state to step up and play an active role in the development of his or her community and country.
“This will not only emphasize the diverse talents of our youth but also encourage them to pursue their passions and dreams”.
In his submission, the State Commissioner of Information and Communications Strategy, Kingsley Femi Fanwo, challenged youths in the state to a roundtable conversation on the Nigeria and Kogi Project.
He said protests will never solve any problem, arguing that the history of protests in Nigeria is such that it is always being hijacked by non-state-actors with the clandestine motive to destroy, maim or kill innocent Nigerians.
He urged the youth to take advantage of the program to acquire life-changing techniques to change the trajectory.