By: Monday Munkaila, Gombe
Chairman of Northern States Governors Forum (NSGF) and Governor of Gombe State, Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya has tasked Northern leaders to ramp up strategies for the redemption of the Youths in the region.
The Governor was speaking as Chairman of Northern Nigerian Roundtable on Youths Development organised by the Sir Ahmadu Bello Memorial Foundation in Abuja on Tuesday with the theme: ” Empowering the the next Generation for Sustainable Development”.
He stated that Youths empowerment is a necessary tool in curbing of unrest and stability currently plaguing the region.
The NSGF Chairman also noted that the massive turnout and participation of young people in Northern Nigeria in the recent End bad Governance protest serve as a wake up call for leaders in the region, demonstrating a disconnect among the citizenry.
He therefore challenged the meeting to work out strategies of transforming the youth in the region into opportunities, communities and economy in collaboration with organisations that will ensure sustainable development and empowerment ultimately fostering peace and prosperity in Northern Nigeria.
The Governor also observed with concern, the involvement of the youths in banditry, terrorism and kidnapping for ransom and resource conflicts currently undermining rural development and food security in Northern Nigeria attributing it to poor quality of education and neglect of the youth.
He said the above concerns has resulted into disruption of agricultural activities leading to decreased in production and increased in food scarcity exacerbating poverty and unemployment among youth in the region.
Represented by Secretary to the State Government, Professor Ibrahim Abubakar Njodi, Inuwa Yahaya however observed that the challenges facing the Northern region is more evident due to historical patterns of regional inequality prevalent in the country.
He drew the attention of Northern stakeholders to dispassionately discuss and identify actionable strategies that will attract investment, generate employment, promote micro, small and medium enterprises to ensure wealth creation for the collective benefit of the rapidly growing population of youth in the North.
The Governor also assured that the Northern States Governors Forum will galvanize resources and intelligence to enhance the quality of life of people in the North.
In their separate messages of goodwill at the occasion, Nigeria’s Vice President, Senator Kashim Shetima represented by Dr Aliyu Modibbo Umar, The Kaduna State Governor, Senator Uba Sani, His Eminence the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar III, former Governors and some prominent leaders harped on peace and also extolled the good leadership qualities of sir Ahmadu Bello the Sardauna of Sokoto of blessed memory which they say are worthy of emulation by current leaders and called for leaders to rise to the occasion to tackle issues of youth restiveness for the betterment of the Northern region and county at large.
The highlight of the occasion was a panel discussion on understanding the causes of Youth discontent, challenges and aspirations as contained in a statement by Joshua Danmallam, Information Officer, SSG’s office, Gombe.
