Youth leaders and stakeholders from the 17 Local Government Areas and three senatorial districts of Enugu State have passed a vote of confidence on Governor Peter Mbah, applauding his youth-focused policies, endorsing the appointment of Hon. Charles Nnaemeka Edeh as Special Assistant on Youth Development and Mobilization, and unveiling a comprehensive roadmap aimed at expanding youth empowerment, entrepreneurship and inclusive governance across the state.
The endorsement came during the Enugu State Youth Stakeholders’ Interactive Session organised by the Office of the Special Assistant to the Governor on Youth Development and Mobilization at the Ministry of Youth and Sports Development in Enugu.
The gathering attracted youth leaders, representatives of youth organisations, government officials, traditional rulers, development partners and stakeholders from across the state to deliberate on youth inclusion, agriculture, entrepreneurship, innovation, sports development and stronger collaboration between government and young people.
In his welcome address, Hon. Charles Edeh expressed gratitude to Governor Mbah for appointing him, describing the appointment as evidence of the administration’s confidence in the ability of young people to contribute meaningfully to governance and development.
He explained that the interactive session was designed to provide a platform for needs assessment, stakeholder engagement and policy dialogue aimed at identifying the aspirations, challenges and expectations of youths across Enugu State.
According to him, the engagement reflects Governor Mbah’s commitment to participatory governance by creating opportunities for government and young people to jointly develop practical solutions to issues affecting the youth population.
Edeh assured participants that his office would sustain regular engagement with youth stakeholders to ensure their ideas and contributions continue to shape government policies and programmes.
The Commissioner for Youth and Sports Development, Hon. Lloyd Ikechukwu Ekweremadu, highlighted what he described as the administration’s remarkable investments in youth development and economic transformation.
He listed flagship projects such as Enugu Air, Smart Green Schools, Type-2 Primary Healthcare Centres, the International Palm Produce Project, the Niger Gas initiative and investment-friendly reforms, saying they have positioned the state as an attractive destination for local and international investors.
The commissioner disclosed that more than 700 young people had benefited from agricultural training programmes implemented in partnership with the Ministry of Agriculture.
He further revealed that, through a collaboration with the Mastercard Foundation, the ministry established a Creative Academy at the Institute of Management and Technology (IMT), where youths are receiving training in Artificial Intelligence, animation, gaming, digital content creation and other emerging digital skills.
Ekweremadu added that the state’s “Tomorrow Is Here” initiative had delivered vocational training across the 17 local government areas, producing about 2,100 trained youths, while 1,020 outstanding participants received start-up support after performance-based assessments to establish sustainable businesses.
The Igwe-Elect of Mburubu and Chairman of First Choice Afro Villa Ltd. and Mburubu Construction Company, Engr. Jerry Patrick Onuokaibe, commended Governor Mbah for creating an enabling environment that has encouraged indigenous investors to expand investments in Enugu State.
He announced a ₦10 million sponsorship package for a statewide youth football competition aimed at discovering talents and promoting youth development, while noting that his company became the first indigenous firm to partner with the state’s Smart Green Schools initiative.
He also urged youth organisations across the state to embrace unity and collaboration in advancing development.
In his goodwill message, Okoh Emmanuel Onyeka, popularly known as Okwuluora Ndi Igbo, praised the rapid infrastructural transformation and economic reforms under Governor Mbah, urging young people to remain united and continue supporting policies capable of delivering sustainable development.
After extensive deliberations, participants adopted a strategic roadmap focused on expanding youth engagement, promoting cooperative and cluster farming, institutionalising periodic youth stakeholders’ forums, increasing youth participation in governance, strengthening collaboration among all tiers of government, deepening grassroots mobilisation, encouraging private-sector investment, creating jobs, revitalising female football, improving affordable housing, supporting youth agricultural associations and accelerating infrastructure development in underserved communities.
The stakeholders unanimously passed a vote of confidence on Governor Mbah, commending what they described as his visionary leadership, commitment to youth empowerment, infrastructure renewal, economic transformation and people-centred governance.
The motion was moved by Amb. Nwamazioshi Joseph Daniel, Senior Special Assistant on Media and Communication to the Executive Chairman of Aninri Local Government Area, and seconded by the Chairman of the National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN), Enugu State Chapter, Comrade Bartholomew Ebuka Okoh.
Participants also applauded Governor Mbah for appointing Hon. Charles Edeh as Special Assistant on Youth Development and Mobilization, describing the appointment as a demonstration of the administration’s commitment to expanding youth participation in governance.
They pledged to work closely with the Enugu State Government in implementing the resolutions reached at the forum and advancing Governor Mbah’s “Tomorrow Is Here” agenda through innovation, entrepreneurship, inclusive governance and sustainable youth development.
