By Pet Nathan
Youths in Gombe State have urged the state government to ensure the effective implementation of its newly approved Strategic Youth Policy while expanding support for youth-owned businesses, innovation and economic empowerment.
The call was made on Wednesday at the Gombe Youth Empowerment Summit, GO-YES 2026, organised by the Gombe State Youth Parliament as part of activities marking the 2026 Gombe Youth Week.
The summit, held at the Custodian Hotel Hall, Gombe, was themed, “Youth Empowerment for a Sustainable Future,” in commemoration of the 2026 International Youth Day.
The event attracted government officials, traditional rulers, development partners, private-sector operators, civil society organisations, academics, youth groups and other stakeholders who deliberated on ways to strengthen youth development and expand economic opportunities in the state.
Those in attendance included the Secretary to the Gombe State Government, represented by the Permanent Secretary, Bala Sarki; Commissioner for Youth and Sports Development, Yusuf-Abdullahi Waziri; Commissioner for Environment and Forest Resources, Yusuf L. Jalingo; and Executive Secretary of the Gombe State Investment Promotion Agency, Farouk Daudu.
In his keynote address titled, “Gombe State Strategic Youth Policy: Overview and Opportunities,” the Chairman of the Association of NGOs, Gombe State, Bachama Yusuf, described the policy as a significant framework for coordinating youth development initiatives in the state.
Yusuf, however, called for its effective implementation, greater collaboration among stakeholders and the meaningful involvement of young people in programmes and policies affecting their future.
Participants at a panel session, “From Potential to Prosperity: Building a Youth-Led Economy,” also examined entrepreneurship, innovation, access to finance, skills development and strategic partnerships as critical measures for building a sustainable youth-led economy.
Speaking at the summit, the Speaker of the Gombe State Youth Parliament and Chairman of the Gombe Youth Week 2026 Central Planning Committee, Aliyu Danladi, said youths should be recognised as active contributors to development.
“Young people should not be regarded merely as beneficiaries of development but as active partners and drivers of Gombe State’s socio-economic transformation,” he said.
A major highlight of the event was the unveiling of the Gombe Youth Enterprise and Innovation Fund, aimed at creating greater opportunities for young entrepreneurs and innovators through partnerships, mentorship and business development support.
The organisers also unveiled The Innovator, the official magazine of Gombe Youth Week, which is expected to document youth stories, ideas, innovations and conversations on youth development in the state.
The summit marked the end of a three-day Youth Week programme, which commenced with a solidarity march from the Emir’s Palace to the Government House.
The programme also featured community service, a free medical outreach, sports and enterprise activities at the Pantami Township Stadium.
Participants subsequently adopted a communiqué containing recommendations and commitments aimed at strengthening youth participation, economic empowerment and sustainable development in Gombe State.
The Youth Parliament thanked the state government, traditional institutions, Ministries, Departments and Agencies, private-sector organisations, development partners, civil society organisations, media practitioners, volunteers and residents for supporting the programme.
It also pledged to sustain the partnerships established during the Youth Week and work towards translating the outcomes of GO-YES 2026 into practical opportunities and increased participation for young people across the state.