Niger State Governor, Abubakar Sani Bello has been honoured as the Grand- Patron, the highest position of the National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN), Niger State Chapter.
The investiture which took place at the Government House Minna was performed by the Niger state Chairman of the Council,Comrade Barau Shariff
Comrade Barau Shariff explained that the investiture was part of the activities marking the annual youths day celebration as directed by the United Nations.
Comrade Barau Sheriff said every state Governor will be crowned as Grand Patron of a State Chapter of the organization in accordance with the Act of Parliament that established the organization.
The State Chairman said the sterling leadership qualities of the Governor as shown through the inclusiveness of youths in his government is worthy of appreciation.
He also enumerated various policies and programmes initiated by the present administration which has impacted positively on the youths in the State to include employment opportunities, empowerment schemes, skills and acquisition trainings among others.
The NYCN State Chairman solicited more financial and logistical support for effective running of the organization.
Governor Abubakar Sani Bello stressed the need for government at all levels to be committed to activities of youths so as to bridge the gap between the young and older generations adding that it is imperative to engage a reasonable number of youths in governance.
Governor Sani Bello who maintained that he will never get tired of appreciating the youths for being instrumental to his return to office for the second term said the State is blessed with a good number of enterprising youths as evident in the database of graduate recently created by the State.
He said though government may not be able to provide employment opportunities for all the unemployed youths in the State, he will continue to support activities geared towards empowering them while calling on the leadership of the State Chapter of the NYCN to also help in sensitizing the people on the reality of COVID-19 and the need to observe all the protocols.
The Commissioner for Youth and Sports Development Emmanuel Umar who led the State officials of the NYCN explained that the theme for this year’s youths day celebration is “Youths engagement for global action”.
He said the theme is aimed at encouraging the Youths to actively involved in actions that can change the world for good.
Some of the activities lined up for the celebration of the International Youths Day include discussions via zoom on burning issues that affect youths such as rape, drug abuse and talks on opportunities that youths can leverage on to better their future.
