Gov. Ahmed Ododo of Kogi has identified youth empowerment, education, employment and technology as critical to addressing security challenges facing the state.
Ododo said this while delivering a keynote at the 2026 Kogi Youth Security Summit held on Friday in Lokoja.
The summit had the theme “Building a Secure Kogi Together: Empowering Youth as the First Line of Peace and Community Security.”
He said that sustainable security required more than weapons, emphasising the need to address the root causes of insecurity through education, job creation, entrepreneurship and social inclusion.
According to him, his administration is committed to creating opportunities for youths through free and compulsory education, agriculture, technology, responsible mining and infrastructure development.
“Development is security because it gives people something valuable to protect them,” he said.
Ododo commended the engineering students of the Confluence University of Science and Technology (CUSTECH) for their innovation in drone technology.
He urged the young people to acquire digital skills and deploy technology to enhance community security.
He commended President Bola Tinubu and security agencies for their efforts to tackle insecurity, urging youths to shun cultism, drug abuse, political thuggery, and other criminal activities.
Ododo urged residents to provide credible intelligence to security agencies and avoid spreading misinformation, hate speech and unverified reports on social media.
“Reporting danger is not betrayal. It is a responsibility. It is patriotism. It is love for your community,” he said.
Earlier, the Commissioner for Youth and Sports Development, Monday Anyebe, announced plans to establish Youth Peace Ambassadors in the 21 Local Government Areas of the state to strengthen youth participation in peace and building security.
Anyebe said the state would strengthen collaboration between youths and security agencies as well as promote sports as a tool for peace and unity.
Mr Yusuf Abiona, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Hay Bravo Security Ltd., advocated stronger community-security partnerships, early-warning systems and sustained youth empowerment.
The summit brought together government officials, security agencies, traditional rulers, youth leaders and other stakeholders to strengthen collaboration towards improving security in the state.
Ododo reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to building a state where young people could access quality education, meaningful employment and opportunities for innovation and productive engagement.
