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.
