The Enugu State government, in partnership with ActionAid Nigeria and the South Saharan Social Development Organisation (SSDO), has launched the Enugu State Youth Policy, aimed at harnessing the potential of young people as critical drivers of sustainable development in the state.
Unveiling the 58–page policy document, Enugu State governor, Peter Mbah, described it as “a new chapter in the collective journey of our young people towards empowerment, Innovation and leadership”.
Represented by the Commissioner for Youth and Sports, Llord Ekweremadu, the governor described young people in the state as the heartbeat of Enugu State.
He said, “They (youth) constitute the energy, creativity and vision that drive our development. Yet, for too long, their potential has been underutilised.
“This Youth Policy is our bold response to that challenge. It is a roadmap that captures the aspirations of our young people and aligns them with the developmental agenda of our dear State”.
Governor Mbah disclosed that “Enugu youth policy is the outcome of rigorous consultations, robust engagements, and collaborative efforts”, stressing that the document was anchored on the principles of inclusion, innovation, gender equity, participation, and accountability.
He added that the policy aims to address critical areas, including education and skills development, entrepreneurship and job creation, health and well-being, ICT and digital innovation, sports, civic engagement, human rights protection, peace and security, and multi-sectoral collaboration.
He expressed gratitude to Actionaid Nigeria for funding the project, the SSDO and other youth organisations that provided technical support towards the realisation of the document, assuring that his government would ensure its implementation.
The Executive Director, SSDO, Dr. Stanley Ilechukwu, reiterated the organisation’s belief in young people as not just leaders of tomorrow but the strength of today, stressing that they gave full support to the development of the policy.
“This policy encapsulates the voices of youths from across Enugu State, from Nnenna, a primary school teacher in Aninri, Uche, a young farmer in Igbo Eze North, Chidinma, a young tailor in Enugu South and countless others. This policy is their collective voice, woven into a vision that the state government has now embraced,” Ilechukwu said.
Ilechukwu stated that the policy was a two-year journey and tasked the relevant government agencies to ensure its implementation, even as he assured support and advocacy to put it into action.
On his part, the Country Director of Actionaid Nigeria, Andrew Mamedu, said the organisation remains steadfast in their mission to work with people living in poverty and exclusion, with a strong focus on advancing the rights and aspirations of young people, women and marginalised groups.
“We believe that young people are not only leaders of tomorrow but change makers of today and that their voices, energy and innovation are central to building a just, inclusive and prosperous society”, he said
Represented by the Head of Program at ActionAid, Nigeria, Celestine Odoh, the Country Director, added that the policy was a testament to what can be achieved through collaboration between the government, civil society, and young people themselves.
“It provided a framework that prioritises youth, development, empowerment and participation in governance, education, employment, climate actions, entrepreneurship, and social justice. This policy is not just a document but a commitment to harnessing the potential of young people as critical drivers of sustainable development in Enugu State.
“As Actionaid Nigeria, we are proud to have contributed to this process and reaffirm our commitment to stand with the youth in Enugu state as they work to actualise the aspirations outlined in this policy. We encourage all stakeholders, government, institutions, civil society, the private sector and development partners to work collectively to ensure its effective implementation,” he said.
