Kaduna State Government has applauded the inter- state synergy initiative of the Progressive Governors Forum, PGF towards the support of policies and programmes that will enhance the potentials of youth across the country to make them compete globally.
Kaduna State Governor, Senator Uba Sani stated this at the Progressive Governors Forum quarterly meeting of Commissioners for Youth and Sports in APC Governed states held in Kaduna.
Represented by the Kaduna State Deputy Governor, Dr. Hadiza Balarabe, Governor Uba Sani explained that the demands of the youth across the globe is opportunity, participation, security, and relevance, therefore, he urged the gathering to go beyond the normal, to profound practical solutions, policies and political statement that have youth agenda, that the APC governors would builds on.
“This meeting is not routine. It is a convergence at a historic moment for our nation, where the intersection between youth aspirations and policy action has become too critical to delay, too urgent to defer. Across our 23 APC-governed states, the demands of our young people are clear: opportunity, participation, security, and relevance” he said.
While commending the Director general, progressive governors forum, Folorunso Aluko and all the commissioners of the All Progressives States present, Governor Uba Sani assured them that Kaduna is ready—not just as a venue, but as a model of youth-focused, governance of innovation, inclusion, and development.
The Governor explained that It is time to begin, Developing cross-state youth mentorship programmes; Creating a national network of APC Youth Centres of Excellence; Designing collaborative sporting tournaments that foster unity and competition; Building a shared digital platform for youth programmes across states; and institutionalizing peer-to-peer learning and scorecard assessments.
In his remarks, the Director General, Progressive Governors Forum, Mr. Folorunso Aluko expressed gratitude to the Kaduna State Governor, senator Uba Sani for hosting the event.
He explained that Kaduna state is a resilient city and a historic land of courage and conviction, hence he is confident that the future the forum seeks to build a youth driven , inclusive, innovative and progressive youth would be achieved.
” As we gather in this historic land of courage and conviction, we are reminded that the future we seek to build a future that is youth driven, inclusive, innovative, and progressive , must be anchored on deliberate policy articulation, inter-State collaboration, and accountable goverance,” he said.
The Director General commended the All Progressives Congress Governors in the twenty- three states, saying they are trailblazers of development, unity and bold reforms, going by their lauble achievements which cut across all sectors of the economy in the country.
He said, the theme for the meeting, youth driven transformation, building a progressive future for Nigeria was apt, as it is a time the youth are seeking relevance, opportunity, identity and belonging, and the forum is always ready to serves as a platform for hope for the youth.
Commenting , the Commissioner of Youth Development, Kaduna State, Barrister Gloria Ibrahim, maintained that under the transformative leadership of Governor Uba Sani, they have embraced a fundamental truth that Youth empowerment is not charity but a core economic strategy, that is why youth development is been given the same priority as essential economic infrastructure such as roads, hospitals, education, agriculture, among others.
She maintained that Kaduna stands ready to share, learn and collaborate, and urged the commissioners to emulate the Kaduna’s 70-20-10 Model which is 70% practical skills, 20% mentorship, 10% theory, as an empowerment strategies.
Highlight of the event is the presentation of an award to Governor Uba Sani for his contribution to youth development in the nation by the forum.
The quarterly meeting which is scheduled for two days, had in attendance, commissioners for youth and sports in the 23 APC Governed States present.
Cov/Naomi Anzaku.
