The Delta State Council of the National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN) has urged Governor Sheriff Oborevwori to institutionalise youth development through a comprehensive youth policy, leadership development programmes, digital-economy opportunities and stronger participation of young people in governance.
The State Chairman of the NYCN, Amb. Comr. Sagboje Odiri Milton, made the call in his goodwill message to Delta youths to mark the 2026 International Youth Day, observed globally on August 12.
The 2026 International Youth Day theme, “Different Contexts, Common Aspirations,” underscores the shared hopes of young people despite differences in their social and economic circumstances. The United Nations says the theme highlights common aspirations including dignity, opportunity, inclusion and meaningful participation in shaping the future.
Sagboje said the theme was particularly relevant to Delta youths, noting that young people across Delta North, Central and South may face different realities but remain united by aspirations for quality education, decent opportunities, meaningful participation and a better future.
He described Delta’s youth population as one of the state’s greatest assets, citing the contributions of young Deltans to business, technology, agriculture, academia, sports, entertainment, the creative industry, professional practice, public service and community development.
“Our greatest resource is therefore not only the abundant resources beneath our soil, the rivers that traverse our maritime space or the infrastructure we are building; our greatest and most enduring resource is the human capital represented by our young people,” Sagboje said.
He argued that deliberate investment in human capital, skills and enterprise would enable young Deltans to create jobs, build sustainable businesses, participate more effectively in democratic processes and produce a new generation of capable leaders.
NYCN Backs New Youth Commissioner
The NYCN chairman also congratulated the newly appointed Commissioner for Youth Development, Hon. Brave Enodeh, assuring him of the support and cooperation of the organised youth constituency.
Enodeh was recently appointed and sworn in as commissioner by Governor Oborevwori and has said the ministry would prioritise job creation, skills acquisition and youth empowerment.
Sagboje described the appointment as timely, given the high expectations among young people, and expressed confidence that the ministry would usher in a new phase of purposeful engagement, innovative policy and measurable results.
He said the NYCN was prepared to work with the commissioner, provide constructive grassroots feedback and support initiatives capable of expanding opportunities for young people across the state.
‘Give Youths More Space in Governance’
Sagboje also commended Governor Oborevwori’s administration for what he described as its deliberate investment in infrastructure, saying roads, bridges and other public projects were important to connectivity, economic activity and long-term development.
He particularly praised the governor for giving young people greater representation in decision-making, describing it as a demonstration of confidence in the younger generation.
“For us, this is more than a mere political representation; it is a statement of confidence in our generation. It is an acknowledgement that young people should not merely be mobilised to vote, applaud or participate at the end of the political process, but should be part of the conversation, the decision-making and the governance of the State,” he said.
While appreciating the governor’s recognition of youths as development partners, Sagboje appealed for more deliberate interventions under the administration’s M.O.R.E. Agenda.
He said the request was driven by the conviction that the development of Delta could not be complete without investing in the generation that would inherit and sustain the state.
“Your Excellency, if the roads we build today will carry the vehicles of tomorrow, then the young people we empower today will carry the leadership and economy of tomorrow. If we are building infrastructure for generations yet unborn, then we must equally build the human beings who will maintain, expand and give meaning to those infrastructures,” he said.
“Brick and mortar will build the structure of a State, but human capital will determine its destiny.”
Seven-Point Youth Agenda
Against this backdrop, the NYCN presented a seven-point youth development agenda for consideration by the governor.
The council called for the formulation and legislative backing of a comprehensive Delta State Youth Policy covering education, employment, entrepreneurship, digital transformation, leadership, sports, creative industries, health, civic participation, peacebuilding and social inclusion.
It also proposed the establishment of a Delta State Youth Leadership Development Institute, which Sagboje described as a “leadership factory” where young Deltans could be identified, trained, mentored and prepared for leadership in government, business, academia, civil society and community development.
The council further called for the return of Youth Development Centres to the Ministry of Youth Development and urged the government to transform them into functional hubs for skills acquisition, entrepreneurship, leadership training and economic empowerment.
It also advocated greater investment in digital and income-generating skills to prepare young people for an economy increasingly influenced by technology, artificial intelligence, digital enterprise, remote work and innovation.
“Delta must not merely produce young people who are searching for traditional jobs; we must produce young people who can create jobs, work for global markets from their homes, build digital enterprises and compete confidently in the global economy,” Sagboje said.
Other demands included the establishment of a Delta Youth House and Resource Development Centre as a permanent hub for youth leadership, innovation, mentorship, policy dialogue and entrepreneurship.
The council also requested quarterly mentorship and interactive engagements between the governor and young people across the state’s 25 local government areas.
According to Sagboje, such engagements would strengthen trust between government and the youth constituency while giving policymakers a clearer understanding of challenges confronting young people at the grassroots.
The NYCN further called for the inauguration of a Delta State Youth Parliament, saying it would expose young people to democratic processes, legislative engagement, public policy, debate and responsible representation.
‘We Are Not Asking Government to Carry Us’
Sagboje stressed that the demands were not intended as a confrontation with the government but represented the aspirations of a generation that believed in the possibility of a greater Delta.
“We are not asking the government to carry us; we are asking the government to create the conditions in which we can stand, work and build. We are not asking for the future to be handed to us; we are asking for the opportunity to prepare ourselves to inherit it responsibly,” he said.
While demanding greater commitment from government, the NYCN chairman also challenged Delta youths to accept their responsibilities by rejecting violence, criminality and political thuggery.
He urged young people to embrace education, entrepreneurship, innovation, peace, service and patriotism, stressing that demands for greater opportunities must be matched by discipline, responsibility and a willingness to work.
Sagboje urged youths not to allow unemployment, poverty or temporary hardship to determine their future, encouraging them to acquire relevant skills, build enterprises, embrace technology and contribute positively to their communities.
He reaffirmed the NYCN’s commitment to the unity, peace, progress and development of Delta State, saying the council would continue to support genuine government policies while constructively advocating reforms and programmes that improve the lives of young people.
He added that the youth constituency would celebrate government achievements, offer partnership where necessary and respectfully demand more where more could be done.
‘Different Contexts, Common Aspirations’
Sagboje urged Delta youths to transform their numerical strength into unity, talents into enterprise and shared aspirations into a common destiny.
“Let us build a Delta State where a young person’s background does not determine the height of his or her dreams; where talent is recognised, skills are rewarded, innovation is supported, hard work is respected and every young person has a fair chance to dream, to work, to prosper and to lead,” he said.
He said the message of International Youth Day 2026 should remind young Deltans that while their experiences may differ, their aspirations and destiny remain interconnected.
“Different contexts may define our experiences, but common aspirations must unite our actions. Our future belongs to all of us, and we must stand united to work, dream and build a better and more advanced Delta State,” he said.
The NYCN chairman wished Delta youths a purposeful International Youth Day and called on government, the private sector, civil society, traditional institutions and other stakeholders to intensify investment in young people.
He stressed that the future prosperity of Delta State would depend largely on how effectively its human capital was developed today.
