Lokoja, Saturday, June 27, 2026 – Kogi State witnessed a significant milestone today as elected youth representatives at both the state and local government levels were officially inaugurated into their respective offices, marking a broad push to deepen youth participation in governance.
The ceremony, held at the IPAC office in Lokoja, Kogi State, involved the solemn administration of oaths of office, marking the formal commencement of their duties. The inauguration saw the swearing-in of 18 state executives, 21 local government coordinators, and ward coordinators, emphasizing a broad and inclusive representation of youth leadership across the state.
At the state level, leadership roles have been filled to steer youth governance initiatives. Comr. Apeh Kelvin has emerged as the State Coordinator who is from Kogi East, with Sunday serving as the Deputy Coordinator from Kogi West, and Itopa Joshua Anataku emerged as the State Secretary from Kogi Central. Other state executives include Mr. Akor Wisdom as PRO 1 from Kogi East, Felicia Usman as Publicity Secretary from Kogi Central, Abel Yaba Emmanuel as Treasurer from Kogi East, Queen Janet as PRO 2 from Kogi Central, Bunmi Olagundoye as PRO 3, Comrade Enape Sunday as Youth Leader from Kogi East, Tsuzom mafo blessing as State Women Leader from Kogi East, Zainab Abdullahi as Deputy Women Leader from Kogi Central, Shaibu Abdulmumuni as Financial Secretary from Kogi East, Abdul Samuel as Assistant Secretary from Kogi West, Abdulazeez Ibrahim Leo as Organizing Secretary from Kogi East, Khadijat Gimba as State Welfare 1 from Kogi West, and Ogala Patrick Prince as Assistant Organizing Secretary from Kogi East.
Coordinators across the 21 local government areas, down to ward coordinators, were also inaugurated. These include Mercy Atuluku as Coordinator and Zakariyau Fatimatu Shakira as Deputy Coordinator for Lokoja Local Government. Comrade Suleiman Abdulrazaq Acheneje leads Ankpa Local Government, while Obaje Linus Ojonugwa is the coordinator for Ibaji Local Government. Ameh Monday will serve in Olamaboro, Emmanuel Apata in Kogi Local Government, and Abubakar Usman as Coordinator alongside Happiness Ekele as Deputy Coordinator in Idah Local Government. Ochimana Blessing with Senusi Jibril as Dekina Publicity Secretary will lead Dekina Local Government. Philip Attah as Coordinator and Ocheni Abubakar as Deputy Coordinator for Igalamela. Monday Adejoh will coordinate Yagba West, and Waniko Raphael for Bassa Local Government. ABIODUN Grace Osekafore takes charge in Ogori-Mangogo, with Ojierayetan Emmanuel Jesusomidotun for Kabba/Bunu. Simon Onakpa is the Omala coordinator, Gabriel Patience for Yagba East, and Abdulrahman Musa Dantala with John Joshua Ojochegbe as Deputy Coordinator for Ajokuta. Umoru Husseini will lead Okene, Haruna Blessing for Okehi, Taiwo Adeoye for Mopa, and Salami Tijani for Adavi. Comrade Kasim Lukman is the coordinator for Ofu. Finally, Medaiyese Oluwatosin Alaba, supported by Olamilekan Ayodele as Deputy Coordinator and Michael Oluwatosin Shina as Secretary, will head operations in Ijumu Local Government.
Immediately after the inauguration, an acceptance speech was given by the State Coordinator where he declared plans for a Kogi State Youth Summit which will hold “in no distance months.” He encouraged the local government and ward coordinators, saying they should “not give up on Kogi State, instead, they should go home, put their house in order because the youth will definitely take positions of leadership at the state level soon.”
This inauguration signifies a profound commitment to enhancing youth participation and empowerment in the governance structures of Kogi State, paving the way for greater involvement of young citizens in policy-making and community development.