The National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN) has commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for establishing the North Central Development Commission (NCDC) and appointing a team of seasoned professionals to lead the commission.
Amb. Akoshile Mukhtar, the vice-president NYCN North Central Zone and Abuja Resident Youth Association (ARYA) praised the president’s decision, saying it demonstrates his commitment to correcting developmental imbalances and catalyzing growth in the region.
Speaking at a press conference in Abuja, he said the NCDC will address long-standing development gaps in critical sectors such as infrastructure, education, healthcare, industrialization, and youth empowerment.
Mukhtar outlined a seven-point agenda for the commission, including youth-centered economic empowerment programs, critical infrastructure development, peacebuilding, and security stabilization.
He added: “Create sustainable job creation initiatives in agriculture, ICT, green energy, and creative industries to absorb the large population of unemployed and underemployed youth in the region.
“Prioritize road construction and rehabilitation, power supply, and water infrastructure across the six states and FCT to stimulate commerce and attract investment.
“Address the rising cases of farmer-herder clashes, banditry, and communal violence through community-driven peacebuilding mechanisms and local security partnerships.
“Establish specialized technical and vocational education centers across the region to prepare young people for the demands of a 21st-century economy.
“Provide funding, training and incubation spaces for startups and small businesses owned by young people, especially in urban and peri-urban areas.
“Ensure equitable representation of young people, women, and persons with disabilities in the governance and operational structures of the Commission.
“Implement programs to combat gully erosion, flooding, and deforestation, while promoting sustainable agricultural practices.
“These interventions, if implemented with sincerity and accountability, will transform the North Central into a model of integrated, inclusive development.
Let me also use this opportunity to call on the newly appointed leadership of the Commission”.
The council also called on the commission’s leadership to prioritize transparency, innovation, and impact, and pledged its support for the initiative.
The NYCN believes that the NCDC’s success will depend on the effective implementation of its agenda and the commitment of its leadership to serving the people of the North Central region.
“We equally appreciate the support of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume, and other leaders who championed the establishment of this Commission,” the statement added.
“To the youth of North Central Nigeria: This is our moment. Let us organize, engage, and contribute constructively. The time of waiting is over; the time of building has begun.”
