Cross River Government Reaffirms Commitment to Sustainable Youth Development
The Cross River State Government has reaffirmed its commitment to placing young people at the centre of governance and sustainable development as the state joins the rest of the world to mark the 2026 International Youth Day.
Speaking at a World Press Conference in Calabar on Monday, August 10, the Honourable Commissioner for Youth Development said the celebration was an opportunity to highlight the potential of young people and strengthen efforts to create opportunities for them.
The Commissioner, while outlining the state’s locally adapted theme, “Different Contexts, Common Aspirations: Advancing the People-First Agenda through Sustainable Youth Development,” said young people across Cross River may face different circumstances but share common aspirations, including access to skills, decent employment, finance, entrepreneurship opportunities and meaningful participation in governance.
According to the Commissioner, the government no longer sees young people merely as beneficiaries of programmes but as partners in development, describing them as entrepreneurs, innovators, athletes, creatives, farmers, technology developers and future leaders.
The Ministry highlighted its Skills in the Hands Programme, designed to equip young people with practical skills while creating pathways for those skills to translate into employment and enterprise opportunities.
The government also emphasized its paid internship initiatives, aimed at addressing the “experience paradox” faced by young graduates who struggle to secure employment without prior work experience.
The Commissioner further highlighted Cross River’s collaboration with the United Nations Nigerian Jubilee Fellowship Programme, describing it as an important partnership that provides young Nigerians with structured opportunities to gain professional work experience.
The government called for stronger collaboration with the private sector, financial institutions, development partners, civil society organizations, universities and other stakeholders to expand internships, apprenticeships, youth enterprise financing and digital opportunities.
The Commissioner also acknowledged persistent challenges, including youth unemployment, underemployment, limited access to capital, digital exclusion and skills mismatches, but stressed that the government would focus on the potential of young people rather than their challenges.
Addressing the youth of Cross River, the Commissioner urged them to acquire relevant skills, build networks, innovate, volunteer and actively participate in their communities.
The Ministry pledged to pursue an inclusive, skills-oriented, employment-focused, entrepreneurship-driven, innovation-led and participatory youth development framework.
The Commissioner called on the media to continue telling positive stories about young people while holding stakeholders accountable for youth development.
“Together, we can transform the energy of our young people into the engine of sustainable development,” the Commissioner said, reaffirming the state’s commitment to ensuring that no young person is left behind.
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