We’re ready to listen to youths, say northern govs

The Northern State Governors have said they were prepared to listen to the youth in the region to address the challenges facing them.

The Chairman of the forum and Governor of Plateau state, Simon Lalong, spoke on Wednesday in Kaduna while inaugurating  a committee on Youth and Civil Society aimed  to enhance engagement towards tackling the challenges of the region.

In a statement released in Jos by his  Director of Press and Public Affairs, Macham Makut, the governor  said the setting up of the committee became necessary in order to resolve youth unemployment, illiteracy, crime amd poverty, among others.

According to him, the committee headed by the Emir of Zazzau Alhaji Ahmed Bamalli, followed  the decision reached at the last meeting of the forum and members of the Northern Traditional Council, as well as other stakeholders.

Lalong said, “Youths form a bulk of the population of the region and the nation, and as such have a great role to play in the destiny of the country.

“Their voices must not only be heard, but their opinions and views should always be carried along in governance. Here in the Northern Region, the challenges facing the youths are enormous and very well known to us.

“As leaders, we must not only address these challenges, but also engage our youths in a manner that they own the process to make any initiative successful and long-lasting.”

In his response, the Emir of Zazzau assured said the committee would face its assignment with vigour and passion and also consult widely to arrive at a conclusion that wouldl assist in finding lasting solution to youths restiveness in the region.

The committee, which has 33 members drawn from the 19 Northern states, is expected to complete its assignment within eight weeks.