NGO tasks Bello on Kogi youth devt bill

A non-governmental organisation (NGO), Kogi Youth Advocacy Cluster, has appealed to Governor Yahaya Bello to put all necessary frameworks in place for the implementation of Kogi Youth Development Commission Bill which was recently signed into law.

The convener of the group, Mr Aminu Okutepa, who made the appeal on Friday in Lokoja at a press briefing , said the commission “when fully implemented has the capacity to take millions of youth out of poverty and unemployment.”

“The passage of the bill by members of Kogi state House of Assembly and subsequently assented by the governor, Alhaji Yajaya Bello, is a welcome development.

“This is a notable milestone in the quest to drastically cut down high levels of youth unemployment which has greatly contributed to several social vices among the youth in Kogi state.

“The bill will also created opportunities for youth in the state to discover their capabilities, build capacities to be self-sufficient and contribute positively to the revenue base of the state,” he said.

While commending the governor for “taking the bold step to sign the bill into law,” Okutepa further appealed to him to “expedite action in ensuring that the bill is implemented to benefit the youth of the state.”

In her goodwill message, ActionAid Nigeria programme manager and executive director, Participation for Behavioural Change in Development (PIBCID), Mrs Gift Omoniwa, commended the governor for the gesture.

She said ActionAid Nigeria planned to support 750 youth annually to acquire skills as part of its sustenance support programme given the right environment to do so.

She urged the state government to establish the commission, saying, “We are sincerely appealing to the state government to do this. The donors are ready to partner and give this commission the needed support.”

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