Youths in Gombe State have called for effective implementation of the newly approved Strategic Youth Policy and increased investment in youth-led businesses, innovation and economic opportunities.
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 Custodian Hotel Hall Gombe, was organised under the theme, “Youth Empowerment for a Sustainable Future,” to commemorate the 2026 International Youth Day.
The event brought together government officials, traditional rulers, development partners, private-sector operators, civil society organisations, academics, youth groups and other stakeholders to discuss strategies for improving youth development in the state.
Among those who attended were 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 the Executive Secretary of the Gombe State Investment Promotion Agency, Farouk Daudu.
Delivering a 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 an important framework for coordinated youth development.
Yusuf, however, stressed the need for effective implementation, collaboration among stakeholders and meaningful participation of young people in programmes designed for their development.
The summit also featured a panel session titled, “From Potential to Prosperity: Building a Youth-Led Economy,” where participants examined entrepreneurship, innovation, access to finance, skills acquisition and strategic partnerships as pathways to creating a sustainable youth-led economy.
Speaking at the event, the Speaker of the Gombe State Youth Parliament and Chairman of the Gombe Youth Week 2026 Central Planning Committee, Aliyu Danladi, said young people should be treated as partners in development rather than mere beneficiaries of government programmes.
Danladi said, “Young people should not be regarded merely as beneficiaries of development but as active partners and drivers of Gombe State’s socio-economic transformation.”
A major highlight of the summit was the unveiling of the Gombe Youth Enterprise and Innovation Fund, an initiative aimed at expanding opportunities for youth-led businesses and innovative ideas through partnerships, mentorship and business development support.
The organisers also launched The Innovator, the official magazine of Gombe Youth Week, designed to document youth stories, ideas, innovations and discussions on youth development in the state.
The summit marked the culmination of a three-day Youth Week programme which began with a solidarity march from the Emir’s Palace to the Government House.
Other activities included community service, a free medical outreach, sports and enterprise activities at the Pantami Township Stadium.
At the end of the summit, participants drafted a communiqué containing recommendations and commitments aimed at strengthening youth participation, economic empowerment and sustainable development in the state.
The Youth Parliament expressed appreciation to the state government, traditional institutions, Ministries, Departments and Agencies, private-sector organisations, development partners, civil society groups, media practitioners, volunteers and residents for supporting the programme.
The Parliament also pledged to sustain the partnerships established during the Youth Week and translate the outcomes of GO-YES 2026 into practical opportunities and greater participation for young people across Gombe State.
