Kogi State Governor, Ahmed Usman Ododo, has identified education, employment, technology and youth empowerment as critical factors in achieving sustainable security, stressing that lasting peace cannot be achieved through the use of guns and ammunition alone.
The governor stated this on Thursday in Lokoja while delivering his keynote address at the Kogi Youth Security Summit 2026, themed ‘Building a Secure Kogi Together: Empowering Youth as the First Line of Peace and Community Security.’
Ododo explained that addressing the root causes of insecurity requires deliberate investments in human capital development, economic opportunities and social inclusion, particularly for young people.
He said his administration was committed to creating an enabling environment for youths to thrive through free and compulsory education, agriculture, entrepreneurship, technology, responsible mining and infrastructure development.
‘Development is security because development gives people something valuable to protect,’ the governor declared.
He emphasised that empowering young people with relevant skills, education and sustainable sources of livelihood would reduce their vulnerability to criminal activities and encourage them to contribute meaningfully to the peace and development of the state.
On the role of technology in strengthening security, Ododo commended engineering students of the Confluence University of Science and Technology (CUSTECH) for their innovations in drone technology.
He urged young people to embrace digital innovation and apply their technological knowledge to addressing security challenges in their communities.
The governor also commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration and security agencies for their efforts to combat insecurity, calling on youths to support ongoing interventions by rejecting cultism, drug abuse, political thuggery and other criminal activities.
He further urged residents to provide credible intelligence to security agencies and refrain from spreading misinformation, hate speech and unverified reports on social media.
According to him, citizens have an important role to play in protecting their communities by reporting suspicious activities and cooperating with relevant authorities.
‘Reporting danger is not betrayal. It is a responsibility. It is patriotism. It is love for your community,’ Ododo stated.
Earlier, the Commissioner for Youth and Sports Development, Hon. Aridaojo Monday Anyebe, disclosed plans to establish Youth Peace Ambassadors across the 21 local government areas of the state.
He explained that the initiative would strengthen collaboration between young people and security agencies while promoting peaceful coexistence and community participation in security management.
Anyebe also highlighted the importance of sports as a tool for promoting peace, unity and positive youth engagement.
Similarly, the keynote speaker, Chief Yusuf Haruna Abiona, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Hay Bravo Security Limited, called for stronger partnerships between communities and security agencies.
Abiona advocated the establishment of effective early-warning systems, improved information sharing and sustained youth empowerment as measures to prevent security threats and strengthen community resilience.
The summit attracted government officials, security agencies, traditional rulers, youth leaders and other stakeholders, who deliberated on strategies for improving security through collective responsibility and stronger community engagement.
Ododo reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to building a peaceful and prosperous Kogi State where young people have access to quality education, meaningful employment, technological innovation and opportunities to realise their potential.
He maintained that investing in the future of young people remains a vital component of the state’s broader strategy to achieve lasting peace, security and sustainable development.