Emmanuel ikpeama
LAGOS – Kogi State Governor, Alhaji Ahmed Usman Ododo, has urged youths in the state to support the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, saying the Federal Government’s youth-focused reforms and empowerment programmes are creating fresh opportunities for economic growth and sustainable prosperity.
The governor made the appeal on Monday in Abuja while inaugurating the Kogi Youth Mining and Jewellery Craftsmanship Empowerment Programme, an initiative of the Kogi State Government aimed at equipping young people with globally competitive skills in the mining and jewellery value chain.
Ododo said the Tinubu administration has demonstrated a strong commitment to youth development through policies and targeted interventions that promote entrepreneurship, reduce unemployment and create sustainable livelihoods for young Nigerians.
According to him, the Federal Government’s investments in youth empowerment reflect a new approach to governance that prepares young people to become wealth creators and key drivers of national economic development.
“I urge our young people to appreciate the commitment President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has shown towards their future. The opportunities being created today are designed to prepare you for tomorrow.
The best way to reciprocate this commitment is through hard work, discipline, patriotism and a determination to succeed,” the governor said.
He reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to investing in programmes that provide youths with practical and lifelong skills, stressing that Kogi’s development agenda is focused on producing self-reliant entrepreneurs rather than creating dependence on government assistance.
“Our objective is not to give you temporary assistance but to equip you with lifelong skills that will make you financially independent, create employment for others and contribute meaningfully to the economy of our state and our nation,” he added.
Congratulating participants selected for the pioneer batch of the programme, Ododo noted that Kogi State is endowed with 32 commercially viable solid minerals, describing the mining sector as one of the state’s greatest economic assets with enormous potential for job creation, industrial development and wealth generation.
He encouraged the beneficiaries to take full advantage of the training, expressing confidence that the technical knowledge and skills they would acquire would enable them to compete successfully in both local and international markets.
The governor also commended the programme’s technical partner, Malivelihood, for collaborating with the Kogi State Government to develop a highly skilled workforce capable of adding value to the state’s abundant mineral resources.
Speaking on behalf of the beneficiaries, Miss Chubiojo Faith Omachi from Ofu Local Government Area thanked Governor Ododo for investing in the future of Kogi youths through skills acquisition and entrepreneurship development.
She pledged that the participants would maximise the opportunity by applying the knowledge gained to establish sustainable businesses while transferring the skills to other young people in their communities.
The Commissioner for Solid Minerals and Natural Resources, Engr. Bashir Gegu, described the initiative as another demonstration of Governor Ododo’s commitment to empowering young people through sustainable economic opportunities.
He urged participants to remain focused throughout the training, noting that the programme offers a unique opportunity to build rewarding careers in one of Nigeria’s fastest-growing economic sectors.
Earlier, the Managing Director of Malivelihood, Dr. Olushola M. Awujoola, disclosed that the programme attracted 16,900 applications from across Nigeria, with 13,900 successfully processed.
He said 20 exceptional candidates were selected for the pioneer batch, adding that additional batches would commence immediately after the completion of the first phase.
Dr. Awujoola commended the Kogi State Government for prioritising youth capacity development and assured Governor Ododo that the beneficiaries would receive world-class training that meets international standards and prepares them for successful careers in the mining and jewellery industry.