Kogi State Government on Tuesday tasked youths on accountability, transparency in all their dealings, so as to be responsible future leaders of the country.
The Commissioner for Youths and Sports, Mr Monday Anyebe, gave the charge while declaring open, a two-day Youth Social Accountability Lab Training for Young Changemakers in Lokoja.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the training was organised by Youth Development and Empowerment Initiative (LYDEI).
NAN also reports that LYDEI is under the auspices of the Youth Upright Accountability Project (YUA-P), with support from LEAP Africa and Nigeria Youth Futures Fund.
Anyebe said that the state government was committed to fostering a culture of accountability, transparency, and civic engagement among the youths.
“As youths, accountability and transparency are so fundamental to your socio-political engagement, in all facets of life and the society.
“Gov. Usman Ododo’s administration has taken due recognition of the fact that development of the state remained intrinsically linked to the engagement and empowerment of the young people.
“It is based on this that the youth ministry is actively seeking to cultivate a vibrant youth sector in Kogi, and promote collaboration among youth organisations, foster collective action and building a network of young changemakers across the state.
“That is why we are delighted to support the Youth Upright Accountability Project (YUA-P), being implemented by the Youth Development and Empowerment Initiative (LYDEI),” he said.
Anyebe explained that the training was a crucial step at ensuring that the youths were not just passive beneficiaries of government programmes but active participants in shaping policies and holding leaders accountable.
In his remarks, Asema Haruna, member representing Adavi Constituency at the State House of Assembly, commended organisers of the training and urged the youths to be committed to doing things right.
Haruna urged the youths to always critically plan towards attaining meaningful positions, to enable them lead.
According to him, the State Assembly will always give priority to issues that concern youths, their lives and ambitions.
Earlier in his welcome address, the Executive Director, LYDEI, Mr Aminu Okwutepa, said that the Youth Social Accountability Lab Training for Young Changemakers was a call for action and a beacon of hope.
Okwutepa said that the training was designed to equip the young changemakers with the skills and knowledge needed for active participation in governance processes.
He said that it was important to cultivate a culture of accountability and transparency among the youths, as these were essential for fostering ethical governance.
Dr Funmilayo Oyefusi, a Consultant and Lead Facilitator for the training, said that the training would build the capacity of the youths to know how to be socially accountable and hold leaders to account.
Oyefusi urged the youths to set manageable goals for themselves and as innovative leaders, improve on themselves, be willing to adapt to changes, not to be scared of failure and be persistent.
“The training is about how youths can be strategic leaders in their own right, how they need to lead themselves first before leading others.
“How they can make others to be accountable; and also how to become an innovative leader,” he said.
In his goodwill message, Seidu Ademu, Chairman of Kogi State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), said that LYDEI shared common mandate with the Union in holding leaders accountable.
Ademu, therefore, urged the youths to, like the journalists, hold duty bearers accountable till the right things were done for the growth and development of the nation. (NAN)
By Thompson Yamput
