Eze Madumere, former deputy governor of Imo State and the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), senatorial candidate for Imo East District, (Owerri zone), has urged Imo youths to embrace technology entrepreneurship, innovation in order to remain relevant in the macro-economic ecosystem.
Madumere, who made the urge during the 2026 International Youth Day celebration, described young people as the driving force behind every progressive society, saying that the development of Imo State cannot be complete without meaningful investment in the youthful population.
Madumere, an American-trained technocrat, called on the political leaders and other stakeholders to move beyond celebrating young people and begin to create real opportunities for youth participation, empowerment and leadership.
He stated that the International Youth Day provides an opportunity to celebrate the energy, creativity, resilience and ingenuity of young people, while also drawing attention to the responsibility of the government and society to create opportunities for them to thrive.
Madumere reaffirmed that his commitment to the youth is not a recent political strategy or a product of public office, but a conviction borne and carried for many years, aimed at repositioning the youths for greater productivity.
‘I have always been a youth person. My commitment to young people did not begin when I became Deputy Governor, nor is it tied to any political position. Today, long before I served the people of Imo State, I believed strongly in the capacity of young people to lead, create, innovate and transform society.
‘Public office only provided me with a broader platform to demonstrate a conviction I had always held that when young people are given opportunity, responsibility and the right environment, they can achieve extraordinary things,’ Madumere said.
According to him, the future of Imo State must be deliberately built around a generation of young people who are equipped, empowered and given the opportunity to contribute meaningfully to governance and economic development.
While celebrating the youth of Imo East, he assured his continued commitment to championing a society where young people are not treated merely as followers and electoral statistics, but as partners, stakeholders and leaders in the development of Imo State and the nation.
‘To every young person in Owerri Zone and across Imo State, I celebrate you today. Your dreams matter, your ideas matter. Your voice resonates loud and clear. Your future is assured. Never underestimate what you can become and keep hope alive.
‘On this International Youth Day, I salute your courage, celebrate your resilience and reaffirm my commitment to a generation of young Imolites who will not only inherit the future but will actively build it,’ he stated.