By Esther Akaa, Lafia
Nasarawa State Government has been urged to prioritise youth development initiatives that will promote innovative solutions to tackle security challenges being faced in the state.
Lead paper presenter at a Peace and Security Summit, organised by the National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN), Nasarawa State Chapter, Prof Umar Usman gave the charge while delivering a paper entitled, “The role of the youth in the security of corporate investment in local communities of Nasarawa State”, held on Thursday in Lafia.
Prof Usman, a deputy Dean of School of Postgraduate Studies at the Nasarawa State University, Keffi ( NSUK), said government must be deliberate in implementing policies that would equip young people with the desired knowledge and skills needed to understand security issues.
The Don who is also the pioneer Youth leader in the state, urged both government and corporate bodies to establish mentorship programmers that will connect the youth with experienced professionals to foster leadership skills and encourage development.
“Those who show great potentials and skills should be supported to establish their own corporate businesses as a way of promoting indigenous corporate investments and future industrial ownership.
” The youth council should from time to time organise community engagement programmers and dialog between the youths , corporate investments and communities in order to foster mutual understanding and trust ,” he said.
Prof Usman noted that although the youth of the state have been facing some daunting challenges ranging from poverty, unemployment, hunger , among others, there was need for them to shun criminality and other social vices for the growth of the society.
He commended the Governor Abdullahi Sule led administration for its friendly youth programmes implemented so far and called for more of such developmental programmes.
In another paper presentation, Director, Centre for General Studies, Federal University of Lafia ( FuLafia) , Dr Abdulkareem Alhassan said the youth must be engaged in peace building processes to safeguard their communities.
He called on youths to advocate for quality education and capacity building programmes aimed at ensuring peace and security of the state.
In his remarks, Governor Abdullahi Sule represented by the Commissioner For Special Duties Security and Sundry Matters, Hon Timothy Kasuwa, said his administration values the contributions of youths and would continue to prioritise their welfare to ensure the peace and unity of the state.
Sule enjoined the youths to be patriotic and redouble efforts in ensuring peace and Security across the 13 local government areas of the state.
The governor commended the various security agencies in the state for addressing various security challenges and appealed to them to collaborate with security agencies to ensure that criminal elements are raid from the society.
Earlier in his address, the chairman of the state youth council, Comrade Jaafar Loko said the peace and Security summit was designed to provide stakeholders and security experts the opportunity to engage the youths on security challenges confronting the state and how to address them.
Loko lauded Governor Sule on the recent local government election and for giving youths the opportunity to lead at the local councils.
He, therefore charged the newly inaugurated chairmen to prioritise the security and empowerment of young people for the growth and development of their areas.
The summit featured paper presentations and discussions from participants and was attended by various youth groups, women organisations , traditional rulers, religious leaders, security agents , among others.