Executive Director, African Youth Resource Centre, Mr Ben Duntoye, has urged governors in the country to involve youths in the governance of their various states.
Duntoye stated this at a meeting on the implementation of the national assessment and tracking programme for youth non-governmental organisations on Monday in Abuja.
He commended Governor AbdulRahaman AbdulRazaq of Kwara State for showing leadership by appointing youths and women into his cabinet, adding that he had chosen to listen to the yarning of the youths.
Duntoye said such gesture had increased youth participation in governance, saying the governors of other states should emulate him.
Presenting a paper with the topic “Role of Non-Governmental Organisations and other stakeholders in the Implementation of the National Youth Policy, he advocated the mainstreaming of young people in government.
He said the era of planning for youths without involving them was over, adding that there should be no plan for the youths without their inputs.
He said that Kwara State has approximately 70 per cent of youths as aides in the state cabinet.
Duntoye, a former president of the Pan African Youth Union, emphasised the importance of implementing the National Youth Policy for national development.
He urged governments at all levels to conduct needs assessments to understand the requirements of the people, particularly the marginalised youth.
The executive directive called for a paradigm shift to address the needs of the youths effectively.
Duntoye said the programme was aimed at fostering dialogue and collaboration for youth empowerment and development in the country. (NAN)
