FIC Report (Kogi State) – The youth of Kogi State on Sunday formally endorsed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for a second term, presenting a cheque of ₦100 million to cover the cost of his All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential expression of interest and nomination forms.
Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo received the cheque on behalf of the President at the Muhammadu Buhari Civic Centre, Lokoja, during activities marking his two years in office.
Speaking at the event, Ododo said the endorsement by Kogi youths was neither emotional nor symbolic, but a deliberate and collective decision rooted in their assessment of President Tinubu’s leadership.
He noted that key economic indicators were showing improvement, citing the gradual stabilisation of the naira, increased availability of food items and improved fuel affordability.
The governor said no administration had prioritised youth empowerment like the Tinubu-led government, pointing to interventions in agriculture, education and the economy.
He added that the President had personally encouraged him in his political journey and continued to demonstrate confidence in young leaders.
Describing Kogi youths as one of the most discerning demographic blocs in Nigeria, Ododo said they possessed the capacity to recognise good governance when they saw it.
He commended the First Lady, Sen. Oluremi Tinubu, for what he described as her genuine compassion and commitment to uplifting families through the Renewed Hope Initiative.
Ododo stressed that the ₦100 million donation was not driven by ethnic considerations, noting that “this is a youth mandate.”
He called on young people across the state to remain united, saying Kogi belongs to all, irrespective of ethnic or political differences
Earlier, the APC Chairman in Kogi State, Abdullahi Bello, described Ododo as a humble leader who has given youths a voice and a platform to showcase their talents.
He said the party in the state was fully mobilised to support President Tinubu’s re-election bid in 2027, adding that the APC remain inclusive, with women exempted from paying for nomination forms and youths paying only for expression of interest forms
Presenting the cheque on behalf of Kogi youths, the Commissioner for Youth and Sports Development, Mr. Monday Aridaya Anebei, said the donation represents the collective resolve of young people across the state to back President Tinubu for a second term.
He urged the governor to formally deliver the cheque to the President.
Anebei said the Ododo administration had consistently prioritised youth inclusion, noting that the governor regularly consulted youths across the state’s 21 local government areas.
He highlighted ongoing empowerment programmes, students’ bursaries, welfare packages and the revitalisation of sports development as evidence of youth-focused governance.
The Kogi State APC Youth Leader, Mohammed U. Mohammed, said youths have benefitted immensely under the current administration, revealing that about 94 per cent of political appointees in the state were under the age of 35.
He added that many young people had been supported to establish and grow businesses.
The Special Adviser on State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), Dr. Sandra Musa, applauded the level of women inclusion in Ododo’s cabinet, citing the appointment of women as Secretary to the State Government, Accountant-General and Deputy Speaker of the State House of Assembly.
She also noted improvements in maternal health, food interventions, implementation of the minimum wage and the state’s tax-free salary policy for workers.
The Special Adviser on Youth and Students’ Matters, John Oladele Nihi, who also serves as Vice President of Youth under the Pan-African Youth Leadership, said many youths initially doubted President Tinubu’s capacity but were reassured by his creation of the Ministry of Youth and other pro-youth policies.
He cited the establishment of a Free Trade Zone in Ajaokuta as a major boost to Kogi’s economic prospects.
The National President of the National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN), Babangida Onimisi, said leadership should be assessed by evidence of purposeful governance, economic resilience and industrial renewal.
He praised Ododo for providing platforms for youths to express themselves and pledged total support for President Tinubu across Kogi State.
Also speaking, the Chairman of Lokoja Local Government Area, Hon. Abdullahi Adamu, urged President Tinubu to understudy and adopt aspects of Kogi State’s security strategy, which he said had contributed to relative stability in the state.
The event ended with renewed calls from youth leaders and stakeholders for sustained unity and mobilisation ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Signed
Maryam Abubakar Gulma CIPRO
Federal Information Centre
Lokoja
25th January 2026
