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From Jude Chinedu, Enugu
Youths in Enugu State have declared their support for the re-election of President Bola Tinubu and Governor Peter Mbah, saying both administrations have opened up unprecedented opportunities for young people through appointments, empowerment programmes, and inclusive governance.
The endorsement was made at the Enugu Youths Support Summit, held at the International Conference Centre, Enugu, with the theme, “Take a stand today & lead tomorrow.”
Addressing participants, the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Youth Development and Mobilisation, Peter Chime, urged young people across the state to unite behind the re-election of Tinubu and Mbah, describing them as leaders who have demonstrated a strong commitment to youth development and inclusion.
Chime said Governor Mbah has redefined the role of young people in governance by moving them beyond political mobilisation to active participation in decision-making through strategic appointments, leadership opportunities, and talent development initiatives.
He also commended President Tinubu for appointing young Nigerians into key positions at the federal level, saying the appointments reflected the administration’s resolve to nurture a new generation of leaders.
Chime explained that the summit was convened to deepen grassroots mobilisation and consolidate youth support for both leaders ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Also speaking, the Commissioner for Youths and Sports Development, Lloyd Ekweremadu, said no previous administration, at either the federal or state level, had created as many opportunities for young people to participate in governance as the Tinubu and Mbah governments.
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He cited the appointment of young Nigerians into strategic offices, including ministerial positions, and the Director-General of the South East Development Commission (SEDC), as well as the inclusion of youths in Enugu State’s Executive Council, local government administration and the State House of Assembly.
Ekweremadu stressed that youth empowerment extends beyond political appointments, noting that several policies introduced by both administrations were aimed at improving the welfare and prospects of young Nigerians.
He highlighted the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND), which provides financial support for students, alongside Governor Mbah’s skills acquisition and economic empowerment programmes, as key interventions targeted at expanding opportunities for young people.
In his keynote address, the Secretary to the Enugu State Government, Prof. Chidiebere Onyia, challenged youths to prepare themselves for leadership through discipline, self-development and mentorship.
Describing the summit’s theme as apt, Onyia said leadership is earned through competence, integrity, and measurable performance rather than rhetoric. He praised Governor Mbah’s performance in office, describing him as one of Nigeria’s leading governors whose achievements have earned him multiple national recognitions.
Urging participants to embrace continuous learning, Onyia encouraged them to remain humble and seek mentors capable of shaping their personal and professional development.
“You can be young in age but old in wisdom,” he said, adding that true leadership is defined by character, humanity, and results, not titles.
The summit attracted government officials, youth leaders, political stakeholders, student representatives, and members of various youth organisations from across Enugu State, who reaffirmed their commitment to greater youth participation in governance and pledged support for the re-election of President Tinubu and Governor Mbah in 2027.
