The newly established Kogi State Youth Development Commission has formally commenced operation with an inaugural meeting in Lokoja, the state capital.
Speaking shortly after the meeting, the chairman, Mr Lawal Ozomata James, and the secretary, Hon Hauwa Rose Idakwoji, thanked Governor Yahaya Bello for providing an avenue for youths to take the centre stage in governance.
The duo noted that the establishment of the commission was to bring youths into the mainstream of governance and give the young ones the platform to harness and exhibit their potential.
They said the youth body is made up of a crop of intelligent, energetic and enterprising individuals with great zeal and passion towards moving Kogi forward.
Members agreed to quickly start working on the short and medium-term plans of the commission, which include several youth empowerment programmes and strategies that will be deployed to fully engage the youths and turn them away from social vices.
A committee was set up during the inaugural meeting with a two-week time frame to come up with the short-term goals for the body.
The commission is also expected to, in the coming days, reach out to several key state players, civil society organizations and donor agencies in the state.
The secretary of the commission, Idakwoji, particularly thanked Governor Bello for ensuring that more women are involved in governance, a situation she said has made it possible for them to contribute positively to nation building.
“Very soon, we will be making available to the public channels through which the youths and the general public can reach the commission,” she said.
Gender expert, Comrade Umar Dan’Asabe Mohammed, emphasized the gender balance that the commission will be driving, saying the commission would pursue programmes that appeal to both the male and female gender.