The Progressive Governors Forum, on Thursday, honoured Governor Uba Sani of Kaduna State with a Special Recognition Award for what it described as his “exemplary leadership, visionary reforms and people-centred governance,” particularly in youth development, innovation and inclusive growth.
The award was presented during the official opening of the PGF Quarterly Meeting of Commissioners for Youth and Sports in APC-controlled states, held at the Stonehedge Hotel in Kaduna.
Director-General of the Forum, Folorunso Aluko, who presented the plaque on behalf of the governors, said the Forum was recognising Governor Sani’s “unwavering commitment to progressive values and measurable development across critical sectors.”
“Governor Uba Sani is a reform-minded leader with a clear focus on impact. His work in education, health, industrialisation and youth empowerment stands out,” Aluko said.
The PGF described the governor’s leadership as visionary and transparent, applauding his administration’s investments in digital learning, agricultural modernisation, rural transformation and security, which it said had become benchmarks for good governance at the sub-national level.
Receiving the award on behalf of the governor, Deputy Governor, Dr Hadiza Balarabe, declared the meeting open and described Kaduna as “not just the host, but a model of youth-focused, inclusive governance.”
According to her, the event should serve as “a platform for practical policy realignment and collaborative solutions among APC states.”
“Governor Uba Sani’s administration is committed to equipping young people with the tools they need to thrive in today’s digital and entrepreneurial world,” she said.
Speaking through his deputy, the governor highlighted key initiatives under his administration, including the Kaduna Youth Economic Empowerment Programme (K-YEEP) which, he said, has supported over 6,000 startups in less than two years.
He also cited the establishment of Kaduna TechHUBs, where young people are being trained in artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, and robotics.
“Our Grassroots Sports Acceleration Initiative and the renovation of 18 community sports centres are part of our deliberate effort to foster unity and groom young talent,” the governor said.
He commended the PGF Secretariat for strengthening state visibility through various documentation tools such as the PGF Executive Briefs, the Weekly Pulse in five languages, and several development tracking initiatives.
Governor Sani also challenged youth and sports commissioners to focus on measurable impact rather than policy rhetoric.
“We must move beyond talk. Let’s begin to measure our progress by real outcomes — jobs created, businesses launched, medals won, and communities transformed,” he said.
In her remarks at the event, the Kaduna State Commissioner for Youth Development, Barrister Gloria Ibrahim, called on her counterparts to take the opportunity to drive change across APC states.
“We gather not just for a meeting, but for a mission — to rewrite the narrative of youth development in Nigeria,” the commissioner said.
She urged participants to embrace Kaduna’s innovative 70-20-10 model, which allocates 70 per cent of youth development efforts to practical skills, 20 per cent to mentorship, and 10 per cent to theory.
“Let us leave here with more than documents. Let us forge real commitments. Commitments that ensure no young person’s potential is shackled by their postcode,” Ibrahim declared.
The conference was expected to feature panel discussions on tech innovation, sports development, and new frameworks for youth empowerment across APC-controlled states.
