By Chijioke Simon,Abakaliki
Governor Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru of Ebonyi State has warned youths against allowing themselves to be used as instruments of political violence, declaring that no political ambition is worth the blood or life of any young person.
Nwifuru issued the warning on Wednesday in Abakaliki while speaking at the grand finale of the 2026 International Youth Week Celebration organised by the National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN), Ebonyi State Chapter.
Represented by the Commissioner for Youth Development and Sports, Hon. Chidi Onyia, the governor described youths as the greatest asset of the state and urged them to prepare for leadership and emerging opportunities through education, skills acquisition, discipline, innovation, entrepreneurship and hard work.
Nwifuru said youths must develop the confidence, competence and capacity required to take advantage of opportunities rather than depend solely on political patronage.
“My point is simple. How much are we prepared? Because I want you to be prepared so that when your opportunity comes, you are prepared,” he said.
The governor challenged young people to move away from the culture of political dependency, insisting that political empowerment without relevant skills and knowledge could not guarantee a sustainable future.
“We have to move from the usual norm, from the normal political patronage,” he said.
He further warned against attempts by politicians and other interest groups to manipulate youths against one another through social media, propaganda and inflammatory messages.
“The fight now is no longer to assault us. The fight now is to use us to fight ourselves,” Nwifuru warned.
He urged youths to scrutinise information before sharing or acting on it, stressing that social media should be used for constructive engagement, education, innovation and community development rather than misinformation, character assassination and unwarranted attacks.
The governor also encouraged the youths to embrace continuous learning and preparation, noting that many people occupying leadership positions today did not begin their careers knowing they would eventually attain such offices.
Earlier, NYCN Chairman in Ebonyi State, Comrade Douglas Ochishi, said the 2026 International Youth Week was designed to provide young people with an opportunity to reflect on their role in the development of Ebonyi State and Nigeria.
Ochishi said the council deliberately moved beyond ceremonial activities by embarking on an independent tour of selected development projects executed by the state government.
According to him, the exercise enabled youth representatives to inspect government interventions in infrastructure, education, healthcare, agriculture, human capital development and industrialisation.
He said the exercise reinforced the council’s belief that leadership should be assessed through visible impact rather than promises and speeches.
“Leadership is best appreciated not merely through promises, but through evidence; not only through speeches, but through visible impact,” Ochishi said.
Based on the outcome of the projects tour, the NYCN chairman announced the council’s endorsement of Governor Nwifuru for a second term, saying the decision was informed by its assessment of the administration’s development initiatives.
“Accordingly, arising from our collective assessment and the outcome of the International Youth Week Projects Tour, the National Youth Council of Nigeria, Ebonyi State Chapter, on behalf of the youth community, hereby endorses His Excellency, Rt. Hon. Bldr Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru, for a second term in office,” he said.
Ochishi said the endorsement was based on the need to sustain and consolidate projects and policies initiated by the administration.
“What has been built must be strengthened. What has begun well must be brought to completion. And what is working must be given the opportunity to work even better,” he added.
He, however, appealed to the governor to provide the council with official mobility support and a sustainable monthly subvention to enable it to coordinate youth programmes across the state’s 13 local government areas and 171 wards.
Ochishi said such support would strengthen grassroots mobilisation, civic education, peace-building campaigns and youth development programmes.
He also listed several initiatives undertaken by the council since his election in May 2024, including the construction of an NYCN annex office, youth summits, sensitisation campaigns, anti-terrorism awareness programmes, free medical outreaches and advocacy against social vices.
The NYCN chairman called on Ebonyi youths to reject drug abuse, cultism, cybercrime, political thuggery and other forms of criminality, urging them to embrace education, enterprise, innovation and responsible civic engagement.
“Let us refuse to be used as instruments of political violence because no political ambition is worth the blood of any Ebonyi son or daughter,” Ochishi said.
Also speaking, the Commissioner for Works, Engr. Stanley Lebechi Mbam, urged youths to remain disciplined, resilient and prepared for opportunities, stressing that leadership and success were products of preparation, consistency and sacrifice.
Mbam identified transparency, accountability, respect for the rule of law, active participation and equitable service delivery as essential qualities of responsible leadership.
Other speakers, including the Special Assistant to the Governor on Road Maintenance, Comrade Ben Nwovu; Special Assistant to the Governor on New Media, Comrade Leo Ekene Oketa; Ebonyi State Commander of the Nigeria Forest Security Service, Commander Larry Igwe; and former Minister, Chief Godwin Ogbaga, among others, described youth development as a critical investment in the state’s future.
They urged youths to use their productive years for self-development, capacity building and meaningful contributions to society, rather than engaging in activities capable of destroying their future.
The speakers also called for greater investment in education, employable skills, entrepreneurship, mentorship, technology, sports and civic participation, stressing that youth empowerment should go beyond political appointments and financial handouts.
They urged the youths to reciprocate government’s efforts by embracing peace, protecting public infrastructure, rejecting criminality and contributing productively to the state’s economy.
A major highlight of the celebration was the presentation of awards to individuals and stakeholders recognised for their contributions to youth development and community advancement.
The event attracted government officials, youth organisations, traditional and religious leaders, political stakeholders, security personnel, community leaders and other stakeholders.
The celebration provided a platform for discussions on youth empowerment, leadership preparation, peaceful political participation and human capital development, with participants stressing that a peaceful, skilled and productive youth population remains crucial to the long-term development and stability of Ebonyi State.