By Muslimat Itopa
Kogi State Governor, Alhaji Ahmed Usman Ododo, has said sustainable security in the state cannot be achieved without placing youths at the centre of the security architecture.
Governor Ododo stated this on Thursday in Lokoja while delivering his address at the Kogi Youth Security Summit 2026, organised with the theme: “Building a Secure Kogi Together: Empowering Youth as the First Line of Peace and Community Security.”
The Governor said security was not only about guns and ammunition, but also about education, employment, technology, economic empowerment and inclusion.
According to him, a society that desires lasting peace must first secure the future of its young people by creating opportunities that would enable them to choose productivity over violence and hope over crime.
“We cannot achieve sustainable security until we thrust the youth to the centre of the security architecture. It is not going to be all about arms and ammunition. It is going to be about technology, jobs, economic expansion, opportunity and inclusion,” he said.
Governor Ododo explained that his administration’s free and compulsory education policy was also a security strategy, noting that keeping children in school and equipping young people with knowledge and skills would help them make productive choices.
He commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his policies aimed at expanding Nigeria’s productive capacity and addressing security challenges.
He also praised security agencies for their courage and sacrifices in keeping Kogi State safe, assuring them of his administration’s continued support.
He disclosed that engineering students at the Confluence University of Science and Technology were already working on the production of drones, describing the development as an example of how young people could deploy technology in addressing security challenges.
He challenged participants at the summit to ensure that the gathering did not end with speeches, but produced practical ideas, networks and initiatives that could be implemented across communities in the state.
Earlier, the Commissioner for Youth and Sports Development, Monday Aridaojo Ayegbe, said the summit was organised by the ministry in collaboration with the National Youth Council of Nigeria, Kogi State Chapter.
Ayegbe said the summit was aimed at bringing youths together to understand that security was a collective responsibility, stressing that youth development was not a side issue in security matters.
He appreciated Governor Ododo for making security a foundation of development and commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and security agencies for their support and sacrifices towards maintaining peace in the state.
The Chairman of the National Youth Council of Nigeria, Kogi State Chapter, Abdulrahman Abdulmumini Enesi, described the summit as a call on youths and security agencies to work together towards building a safe and secure environment.
Enesi reaffirmed the commitment of the youth council to support the government and security agencies in ensuring a peaceful and secure Kogi State.
GIPHY App Key not set. Please check settings