Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq said on Wednesday that his administration will continue to prioritize youth engagement and empowerment because failure to do so will stifle their growth and potential.
The Governor stated that the 2020 ENDSARS protest was another signal for governments worldwide to listen to and properly engage young people in positive activities, adding that his government is made up of many young people, and many of its programs are aimed at empowering them.
AbdulRazaq made the remarks while receiving the Founder and General Superintendent of the Deeper Christian Life Ministry, Pastor Williams Folounsho Kumuyi, who was on a courtesy visit to Government House in Ilorin, the capital city.
The courtesy visit came ahead of the Deeper Life Ministry’s Youth Ego Swallow (YES) program in Ilorin, which the respected pastor said was designed to engage and mentor young people, as well as make them aware of their enormous developmental potential.
“Indeed, the focus of this government is youth engagement. This is why we are investing heavily in the education sector to be able to capture them young,” he said.
“Although we have challenges in funding because of the dwindling resources, we still believe in human capital development which includes catering for young people and their future. After paying salaries, which is our first line charge, there is really not much left but we are managing ourselves very well.
“We have been pushing the youth agenda and inclusion even in the coming elections in the State. Our primaries had just been concluded. We have a twenty-six year old person vying for the House of Assembly seat. We are also pushing the gender parity agenda by passing a bill that guarantees 35 percent employment and appointment of women, who are mostly youths, into public office, and with that we have seen a surge in the number of women and young people coming out for elective offices.
“We are indeed happy to receive you this morning in Government House. The YES programme you’ve talked about is a welcome development. It is a programme that will ignite the interest of the youths in political participation, business, community service, and all spheres of life. We need to direct our youths and make them confident in themselves to be able to achieve and know that the space is there for them to fulfil their destinies.
“We have great youth engagement here in Kwara, including at cabinet level. Just last week, also, we held a youth fair where youths showcased their talents in marketing and business. It was a successful event, which was the second one under us. And some of those who participated in the first event were able to get NAFDAC registration for their products, and they are doing well.”
He expressed gratitude to the clergyman and his entourage for their visit to the state and assured them of the government’s hospitality throughout their stay, stating that the government is fully supportive of their YES program.
Pastor Kumuyi, for his part, stated that he was in Government House to seek government support for the Ministry’s YES program, which is set to launch in Kwara.
“My mission is to engage the youth, not just the Christian youths or Muslim youths. I want to open the eyes of the young people and show them who they can be and what they can be, and refocus them,” he said, adding that the programme had been inspired by some of his recent engagements with young people out of Nigeria.
“If Your Excellency could come to address people as the Governor of the State, it would be appreciated. I want to carry your voice to the rest of the World, talking to them, redirect (their minds positively) and give them vision so that in our own time the young people we are handing over to will have something concrete from us and will be confident and rest after when we handed over to them that they have the stuff and stamina to carry this generation on.
“So, I invite the government to come and take part in it and encourage them. We’ve subtitled it ‘Youth Ego Swallow – YES’. We want to tell them we say yes to them, and if they say yes to us there is no limit to where they can get to”.
He praised AbdulRazaq for always reaching out to young people and involving them in his administration.
“I really appreciate your policy and ways of handling things. Christians on one hand, and the Muslims on the other hand. I am particularly interested in your (Governor) reaching out to the young people. As we do know, you are the Governor for the grassroots and for everyone.”
The cleric was accompanied on his visit by senior ministers from his church as well as some leaders from Kwara State’s Christian community.