Owerri, Imo State — The Honourable Commissioners of Youth Development from All Progressives Congress (APC)–governed States converged on Owerri, the Imo State capital, from November 6–7, 2025, for a two-day retreat themed “FG–PGF Youth Policy Synergy: Harmonizing State-Level Action with the Renewed Hope Agenda.”
The retreat, hosted at Hotel De Copperfield, was convened under the auspices of the Governor of Imo State and Chairman of the Progressive Governors’ Forum (PGF), His Excellency, Distinguished Senator Dr. Hope Uzodimma, CON. Before the retreat commenced, the Commissioners, led by the host Commissioner, Dr. Ukaegbu Mandela, paid a courtesy visit to the Governor at Government House, Owerri. They were also received by the Deputy Governor, Her Excellency, Lady Chinyere Ekomaru (Ph.D), alongside the Director General of the Progressive Governors Forum (PGF), Folorunso S. Aluko.
In his welcome address, Dr. Mandela highlighted the rich cultural heritage, hospitality, and tourism potential of Imo State. He also commended Governor Uzodimma’s infrastructural strides, including the newly commissioned twin overhead bridge at Control Post, the Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu International Convention Centre, and the soon-to-be-completed Imo Concorde Hilton, described as a five-star pride of the South-East.
Other speakers at the opening session included PGF Director General Folorunso Aluko, the Chairman of APC Youth Commissioners’ Forum Hon. Sagir Musa Ahmed, and His Royal Majesty Eze Dr. Oliver Ohanwe, the Obi Gburugburu of Igbo Land and Paramount Ruler of Ihim Isiama Autonomous Community in Isiala Mbano LGA. The retreat featured a keynote lecture by Amb. Blessing Fubara (Snr.), who emphasized peer-review mechanisms and the need for youths to identify and scale their skills for sustainable development.
Other resource persons, including Human Capital Development Expert Linus Okorie, stressed the importance of personal growth, leadership development, and youth-driven innovation. At the end of deliberations, a communiqué signed and read by Dr. Ukaegbu Mandela outlined key resolutions of the APC States’ Youth Commissioners, the commissioners commended President Ahmed Bola Tinubu for his “bold and transformative framework” for youth empowerment under the Renewed Hope Agenda, pledging to domesticate these policies across APC states.
They praised the Progressive Governors for their exemplary leadership in implementing youth-focused reforms in education, healthcare, agriculture, infrastructure, and digital governance, The forum emphasized the urgent need to expand youth access to the digital economy by establishing innovation hubs, digital skills training centres, and start-up incubation programmes through partnerships with the Federal Ministry of Communication, Innovation and Digital Economy and private tech stakeholders, the Commissioners resolved to invest more in youth empowerment as a sustainable approach to reducing unemployment, crime, and insecurity, incorporating youth engagement into state-level security strategies.
They underscored the importance of sports development, vocational training, and entrepreneurship as tools for peace-building and social stability, the Commissioners called for the development of PPP frameworks to attract private sector investment into youth entrepreneurship, sports infrastructure, and digital innovation — reducing overreliance on government funding, they resolved to strengthen collaboration between the Federal Government and APC States through the PGF Secretariat by establishing a Joint Technical Working Group to harmonize youth policies, coordinate implementation, and share best practices, the Commissioners reaffirmed the central role of young people in sustaining democratic values and promoting civic engagement in governance.
During the press briefing, the Commissioners pledged to mobilize 12 million youth votes for President Ahmed Bola Tinubu, expressing confidence in his leadership, they also conferred on Governor Hope Uzodimma the prestigious title of “Pan-Nigeria Youth Governor”, recognizing his exemplary contributions to youth development and empowerment initiatives nationwide. Those in attendance included: Hon. Sagir Musa Ahmed (Jigawa State), Dr. Ukaegbu Mandela (Imo State), Hon. Adamu Inuwa Ibrahim (Gombe State), Barr. Odum Ijom Ukam (Cross River State), Hon. Engr. Mustapha Mohammed (Sokoto State), Hon. Richard U. Idike (Ebonyi State), Hon. Barr. Trakiriowei Harry T.H. (Delta State), Hon. Segun Omoyofunmi (Oyo State), Hon. Barr. Gloria Ibrahim (Kaduna State), Amb. Ndanusa Usman Shehu (Kwara State), Aliyu Lawal Zakari (Katsina State), Comr. Narudeen Bala (Kebbi State), Hon. Alfred Kemepado (Bayelsa State), Hon. Imojime Tiz (Benue State), Hon. Lloyd Ike Ekweremadu (Enugu State), and the Permanent Secretary representing the Commissioner of Yobe State, among others
Report by Fredrick Njoku