toIn a powerful testament to healing, reconciliation, and transformation, the Kogi Central Youths (KCY) have launched a major peace and empowerment initiative to honour the memories of young lives lost during the turbulent political era of the early 2000s. The event, marked by remembrance and renewed hope, highlighted how a once-violent past is now shaping a purposeful future.
Kogi Central was once the epicenter of political thuggery, where youths were weaponized by desperate politicians as tools of violence. Many paid the ultimate price as lives were lost, homes burnt, and entire families forced into exile. But through deliberate government intervention and grassroots reconciliation, the story has changed.
Former Governor Yahaya Bello, upon assuming office, prioritized peacebuilding in the region. His administration embarked on a deliberate campaign of reconciliation, reformation, and rehabilitation. Many of the former political actors who survived the bloody conflicts have since turned a new page. Today, they are not just reformed citizens, they are peace ambassadors. Through the establishment of a Foundation dedicated to peace and youth empowerment, they are giving back to the society they once helped destabilize.
As part of the recent KCY initiative, 114 families of those who died during the political unrest received N100,000 each in support, while 171 individuals, three from each of the 57 wards in Kogi Central—were awarded N50,000 each in recognition of their resilience and in a show of solidarity. In the empowerment segment of the event, one youth per ward was gifted an industrial sewing machine to foster skill acquisition and self-reliance. In addition, each Local Government Area in Kogi Central received N1 million to sustain youth development initiatives.
Delivering the keynote address, Alhaji Kashim Ododo, Special Adviser on Domestic Affairs to the Governor, urged youths to permanently shun political violence and embrace peace as the pathway to personal and communal development. He observed that the same youths who were once tools of destruction are now becoming builders of peace and champions of empowerment—thanks to a new direction instilled by successive administrations.
Alhaji Kashim paid glowing tribute to former Governor Yahaya Bello, describing him as a visionary who laid the foundation for peace and youth rehabilitation in Kogi Central. He also commended Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo for sustaining and expanding that legacy through targeted youth-focused policies and empowerment schemes.
Reacting to the development, the State Commissioner for Information and Communications, Kingsley Femi Fanwo, praised the youth of Kogi Central for “turning the dark days into destiny-fulfilling moments.” He said the State Government remains deeply grateful to former Governor Bello for reforming youths who were once set against each other, stating that the initiative has helped them “recover their destinies.”
Fanwo further assured that the administration of Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo is fully committed to consolidating the gains of peace in the region and across the state. According to him, the current government views youth empowerment not just as a policy, but as a strategic approach to maintaining peace and building a stable, prosperous Kogi.
KCY Chairman, Ahmed Adams (Orio), expressed gratitude to Alhaji Kashim for his unwavering support and to all stakeholders who have contributed to the region’s turnaround. He encouraged youths to remain focused, law-abiding, and committed to the new Kogi Central that stands for peace, unity, and purpose.
