By: Titus Akor, Makurdi.
Benue State Governor Rev. Fr. Dr. Hyacinth Iormem Alia has expressed commitment to the operationalization of the Benue State Youth Development Commission to address the demands of youth in the State and contribute to the transformation of Benue.
Governor Alia made the commitment Wednesday during the celebration of 2026 International Youth Day organised by the State Ministry of Youth, Sports and Creativity in collaboration with Benue Youth at IBB Square in Makurdi.
Represented by the Deputy Governor, Dr. Sam Ode mni, the Governor commended the youth for their readiness to participate actively in the development of the State, adding that they are partners of government in building the society through innovation, farming, among others, with the capacity to create jobs.
He charged the youth to seize the opportunities provided by his administration by acquiring the necessary skills, embracing agriculture, technology, and participating actively in politics, as well as rejecting social vices to achieve the Benue of their dreams regardless of background.
Speaker Benue State House of Assembly Hon. Alfred Emberga called on Benue Youth to resist any temptation to be recruited as political thugs, urging the Youth to rally round the administration of Governor Hyacinth Alia whom according to him has carried Benue youth along in the scheme of things.
The Speaker challenged Benue youth to resist those politicians who did not meant well for the development of the state and the youth and promised to support the Governor to implement programmes and policies that have direct bearing on the lives of the people.
On his part, ALGON Chairman and Chairman Kwande Local government Hon. Victalis Neji assured Benue youth that all the twenty three local government chairmen would support young people and thanked Governor Alia for finding them worthy to serve the state in the capacity of local government chairmen with a promise not to disappoint the younger generation.
Managing Director Benue state Investment and property company Doctor Raymond Asemakaha, spoke on the topic Where will the Youth go after Graduation, urged the young people to acquire skill to enable them remain relevant to the society, saying the Future currency of the Young people was their skill and knowledge they acquired.
A youth activist and APC house of representatives candidate from Kaduna state Mr malmud Sadisbaba who was in Benue for the celebration of international youth Day said youth were no longer the leaders of tomorrow but leaders of today and challenged Benue youth to prepare themselves towards leadership because opportunities always come with responsibilities.
Ter Nagi Chief Daniel Abomtse in his good will message, urged government at all levels to take deliberate steps towards addressing the challenges of the Young people and accommodate them in the act of governance to enable them contribute their quota to the development of state.
Also in a goodwill message, the chief Executive officer D’Fudi cuisine Limited Dr. Doom Akpoughol advised young people to embrace skills that would made them to become self reliance and employers of Labour rather than waiting for Government jobs that were no longer available.
In his welcome address, Chairman Central Planning Committee and Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Youth Mobilization, Terver Gbenda said the celebration of the global event in the State cut across all political parties, tribes, traditional and religious institutions, thanked Governor Alia for giving youths the opportunity to form the core of his administration through appointments and employment in various sectors with training of thousands of them in ICT.
He encouraged the youth to engage in agriculture which he described as the major economy of the State instead of being involved in thuggery and criminality.
Standard Times Nigeria reports that goodwill messages were presented by representatives of Nigeria Union Benue State Students, Trade Unioñ Group and People with Special needs while the event featured presentation of awards to best performing local government council chairmen, appointees, young innovators and students across the State.
