The Nigerian Regional Youth Leaders Coalition has called on the Federal Government to institutionalize the appointment of Youth Capital Development Officers across all six regional development commissions in the country.
The coalition believes this move will significantly enhance youth involvement in regional planning and execution.
In a joint statement, youth representatives from various states—including Rivers, Kano, Ondo, Benue, Anambra, and Borno—said the proposal seeks to mainstream youth development into Nigeria’s regional growth strategy.
They noted that youth remain largely underrepresented in developmental structures despite accounting for over 70% of the population.
Highlighting the importance of the South-South Development Commission (SSDC), the statement emphasized that youth inclusion in the commission’s framework would help drive community-centered solutions, especially in oil-producing areas grappling with unemployment and environmental challenges.
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The Coalition also cited the abundant natural resources spread across the six geopolitical zones, including bitumen, gold, lithium, gypsum, and petroleum, as untapped assets that could be harnessed effectively with youth-driven innovation and leadership.
They commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for prioritizing regional development through commissions like the North East Development Commission (NEDC) and the proposed South East and South West Development Commissions, stating that youth participation will be vital to their long-term success.
According to the statement, Youth Capital Development Officers would act as liaisons, coordinating youth-focused programs, facilitating capacity-building initiatives, and ensuring young Nigerians are directly involved in regional decision-making processes.
The group urged the Presidency, Ministry of Youth Development, Ministry of Regional Development, and the National Assembly to back the proposal and include it as a national policy. They also called for budgetary provisions and programmatic authority for the officers under the Office of the Presidency.
“From insecurity to economic hardship, young Nigerians face the harshest realities,” the Coalition said. “It is only right that we become part of the solution—through meaningful inclusion, not token gestures.”
