02/06/2026
YouthPride Advances Youth Empowerment at Inaugural 'Arise Youth Week' Planning Meeting
YouthPride, the leading youth-led advocacy organisation championing youth development across Akwa Ibom State, played a prominent strategic role in the inaugural meeting of the Central Planning Committee (CPC) for the upcoming Arise Youth Week.
Hosted by the Honourable Commissioner for Youth Development, the meeting brought together key public and private sector stakeholders to design a high-impact program focused on youth innovation, enterprise, and leadership.
YouthPride contributed critical technical expertise in enterprise event management and large-scale crowd control, reinforcing its position as a vital voice in shaping youth-focused initiatives.
Key Highlights Showcasing Youth Progress
Landmark Youth Development Milestones: The Commissioner highlighted transformative achievements under Governor Pastor Umo Eno’s administration, including the Dakkada Skill Acquisition programs, the Ibom LED Centre (which has trained over 1,000 youths), and the newly inaugurated Youth Development Centre in Oron — with plans for replication across zones. The vision is ambitious: equipping at least 1,000 youths per Local Government Area with skills to reduce unemployment, spark youth-led enterprises, boost productivity, and increase internally generated revenue. Notably, startups from the previous Arise Youth Week have already scaled and begun interstate exporting.
Strategic Program Focus: Discussions covered a robust event framework featuring mass mobilisation of at least 1,000 youths statewide, business pitch competitions, startup empowerment packages, corporate exhibition booths, and high-level panels. A dedicated website is proposed to enhance digital mobilisation, submissions, and partnerships.
Major Policy Milestone: The official Akwa Ibom Youth Policy will be formally adopted during Arise Youth Week — a significant victory for structured youth development and advocacy.
YouthPride’s active participation underscores the power of youth-led organisations in driving accountability, innovation, and impactful collaboration between government, private sector, and young people. The committee will operate through specialised sub-committees to ensure transparency and excellence in ex*****on. This gathering signals strong momentum for youth empowerment in the Niger Delta.
YouthPride remains committed to amplifying young voices, nurturing talent, and turning potential into prosperity across Akwa Ibom State. The journey to an even greater Arise Youth Week has begun — powered by youth, for youth.
