12/08/2026
NATIONAL YOUTH COUNCIL OF NIGERIA (NYCN)
KABBA/BUNU LGA CHAPTER.
PRESS RELEASE
NYCN KABBA/BUNU LGA CHAPTER CELEBRATES INTERNATIONAL YOUTH DAY 2026, CALLS FOR GREATER YOUTH INCLUSION IN GOVERNANCE AND RESPONSIBLE PARTICIPATION IN THE 2027 ELECTIONS
For Immediate Release
Wednesday, 12th August, 2026.
The National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN), Kabba/Bunu LGA Chapter, under the leadership of Comrade Eseyin David Gbenga, joins young people across Nigeria and the world in commemorating International Youth Day 2026, with this year’s theme, “Different Contexts; Common Aspirations.” The occasion provides an opportunity to celebrate the strength, resilience, creativity, innovation, and enormous potential of young people, while also reflecting on the responsibilities of the youth and the society in creating an inclusive, peaceful, prosperous, and sustainable future.
The NYCN Kabba/Bunu LGA Chapter sincerely appreciates the Kogi State Government under the able leadership of His Excellency, Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo, for the administration's efforts towards encouraging young people to participate in the governance and political affairs of the State. We equally appreciate the Executive Chairman of Kabba/Bunu Local Government Area, Hon. (Barr.) Dare Zacchaeus Michael, for his support, encouragement, and recognition of the youth constituency as an important component of the development of the Local Government. We commend these efforts and urge both the State and Local Government authorities to sustain and deepen this commitment by creating more opportunities for competent and qualified young people, particularly from Kabba/Bunu, to be included in governance, public service, leadership, policy formulation, and decision-making processes. We believe that greater youth inclusion will bring fresh ideas, innovation, energy, technological advancement, and new perspectives into governance, while also preparing a new generation of responsible leaders for the future.
The theme of this year’s International Youth Day, “Different Contexts; Common Aspirations,” speaks directly to the realities of young people today. Young people come from different backgrounds, communities, cultures, economic circumstances, educational experiences, and social environments. Their challenges may not always be the same, but their aspirations are often common. Young people everywhere desire opportunities to learn, work, innovate, lead, contribute to their communities, live in peace, and build a better future for themselves and generations yet unborn.
The theme reminds us that our differences should not become barriers to collective progress. Instead, our different experiences and perspectives should serve as sources of strength in addressing the challenges confronting our society. A young person in Kabba/Bunu may experience challenges that are different from those faced by a young person in Lokoja, Abuja, Lagos, or another part of the world, but the desire for quality education, meaningful employment, economic empowerment, good governance, security, inclusion, dignity, and a peaceful society remains largely the same.
As captured in our message for this year’s celebration, “By promoting inclusive leadership and active participation, young people can drive sustainable development, strengthen their communities, and create lasting solutions to social and economic challenges.” This is why the NYCN Kabba/Bunu LGA Chapter believes that youth empowerment should go beyond political appointments or occasional empowerment programmes. It should involve continuous investment in education, skills development, entrepreneurship, technology, leadership training, employment opportunities, civic participation, innovation, agriculture, sports, creative industries, and other areas where young people can develop their abilities and contribute meaningfully to society.
We also believe that government cannot achieve sustainable development alone. Society has an equally important role to play in creating an environment where young people can thrive. Parents, traditional rulers, religious leaders, community leaders, educational institutions, civil society organizations, private organizations, political leaders, and other stakeholders must collectively support the development of young people. Young people, on the other hand, must also recognize that empowerment comes with responsibility. The society we desire to see tomorrow depends significantly on the choices we make today.
The NYCN Kabba/Bunu LGA Chapter therefore calls on young people to embrace good character, integrity, discipline, hard work, patriotism, peaceful coexistence, tolerance, accountability, and service to humanity. Our communities need young people who will use their talents to solve problems rather than create them; young people who will promote peace instead of violence; young people who will pursue knowledge and skills rather than be driven by negative influences; and young people who will become responsible leaders and active citizens.
Also, as we gradually approach the 2027 general and state elections, we particularly encourage the youths of Kabba/Bunu and Kogi State to remain peaceful, politically conscious, and responsible. We must not allow ourselves to be used as instruments of violence, intimidation, destruction, or political thuggery. Political actors may come with promises, incentives, or temporary benefits, but the consequences of violence can affect the future of the young person involved for many years.
We therefore urge young people to understand that politics should be about ideas, policies, leadership, development, service and not violence. No political ambition is worth sacrificing the future of a young person, and no election is worth destroying the peace and unity of our communities. Young people must reject every attempt to recruit them into political violence and instead position themselves as critical stakeholders in the democratic process and decision-making of the election.
The youth constituency should not only be remembered when political parties and candidates need campaign crowds, social media engagement, posters, mobilization, or votes. Young people must demand meaningful participation in the processes that determine their future. They should be encouraged to ask questions about the policies, programmes, competence, character, track record, and vision of those seeking public office. They should participate constructively in political discussions, promote issue-based campaigns, encourage peaceful elections, and hold elected leaders accountable to their promises.
Young people should also understand that their contribution to society goes beyond politics. They can contribute to community development through entrepreneurship, education, agriculture, technology, environmental protection, volunteering, healthcare advocacy, social innovation, creative industries, mentorship, and other forms of community service. Every young person has something valuable to contribute, regardless of their background or current circumstances.
The NYCN Kabba/Bunu LGA Chapter further believes that youth empowerment is key to sustainable development. When young people are given the right opportunities, they can become employers rather than job seekers, innovators rather than mere consumers, community builders rather than agents of destruction, and responsible leaders rather than victims of political manipulation. Investing in young people is therefore an investment in the future of Kabba/Bunu, Kogi State, Nigeria, and the world.
We reiterate our appreciation to the Kogi State Government under Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo and the Kabba/Bunu Local Government administration under Hon. (Barr.) Dare Zacchaeus Michael for their recognition of the importance of young people in governance and community development. We respectfully encourage them to do even more by creating additional platforms and opportunities for qualified young people from Kabba/Bunu to serve and contribute to governance. We believe that with greater inclusion, mentorship, and access to leadership opportunities, the youth constituency can contribute significantly to the development agenda of the Local Government and the State.
Under the leadership of Comrade Eseyin David Gbenga, the NYCN Kabba/Bunu LGA Chapter remains committed to advocating for youth development, inclusive leadership, peaceful participation, responsible citizenship, and meaningful engagement between young people and government. We will continue to encourage young people to develop themselves, acquire relevant skills, uphold good values, participate constructively in governance, and contribute positively to the development of our communities.
On this special occasion of International Youth Day 2026, we celebrate every young person in Kabba/Bunu, Kogi State, Nigeria, and across the world. We celebrate your dreams, your resilience, your creativity, your courage, and your determination to make a difference.
Our contexts may be different, but our aspirations remain common. We all desire a peaceful society, meaningful opportunities, inclusive governance, sustainable development, responsible leadership, and a future where every young person has the opportunity to realize their potential.
Let us therefore turn our common aspirations into collective action. Let us choose peace over violence, character over corruption, service over selfishness, knowledge over ignorance, innovation over destruction, and responsible participation over political manipulation.
To the youths of Kabba/Bunu: your future is important, your voice matters, your participation counts, and your character will determine the kind of society we build.
May this International Youth Day inspire us to become better citizens, better leaders, and better contributors to our communities.
Happy International Youth Day 2026!
Different Contexts; Common Aspirations.
Together, let us empower young people for inclusive leadership, sustainable development, and lasting community impact.
E-Signed:
COMRADE SAMUEL OLUWABUSAYOMI FELIX
Samuel Busayomi Felix
PRO, NYCN Kabba/Bunu LGA Chapter.
