…..Senator Pledges To Support Governor On Youth

Kwara State plans wholesale domestication of the National Youth Development Policy, NYDP, enacted since 2009, with an initial five years implementation window, it has been learnt.

Making this disclosure, Hajia Nafisa Buge, Commissioner for Youth Development for the state, said that this has become necessary for the state government because of the need to have a strong policy framework with which to drive youth development in the country.

The National Youth Policy (2009) aims to, promote the enjoyment of fundamental human rights and protect the health, social, economic and political well-being of all young men and women in order to enhance their participation in the overall development process and improve their quality of life in the country.

Buge, speaking on Governor Abdulrahaman Abdulrazaq's plan to domesticate the national policy, chose the occasion of 'Play With Kwara Youths 3.0' in Ilorin to make the disclosure.

According to the commissioner, the domestication of NYDP is meant to provide needed policy framework to drive development in the state.

“Next year, we are domesticating the National Youth Policy in Kwara's State.

“When we do that, it will provide support and framework for youth development in sports and other areas of life in the state,” she said.

Kwara, arguably, has the best structured youth development infrastructure in the North Central, ranging from having the highest concentration of tertiary institutions, sports facilities and for the past four years have had series of youth/gender sensitive fiscal policies to enhance business development.

The state government appear to want to take this a notch higher with the domistication of the NYDP.

Also speaking on the youth sports fiesta, Buge said the event demonstrates just how latent Kwara is in terms of Youthful energy.

“I am happy about this program.

“What it shows is that we are leaving in Harmony in Kwara State. I must also say that we have a governor in Abdulrahaman Abdulrazak who is a strong supporter of the youth.

“We are looking forward to supporting more oriented programs,” she added.

'Play With Kwara Youth' sports fiesta was put together by Mutiu Yusuf to encourage the coming together of Kwara Youths by engaging in sports like football, table tennis and other games.

The event had political heavyweights supporting it.

One of the backers, apart from Governor Abdulrazaq, was Sen Saliu Mustapha Turakin Ilorin and senator representing Kwara Central.

Speaking on the Senator's support of the event, Barrister Abdulkareem Akanbi, his aide said that youth energy and development has always been a gainful enterprise for any government hoping for long term development.

“The senator has always been passionate about programs that lifts Kwara youths.

“It is a commitment he has actively supported Governor Abdulrazaq on,” He said.