The growing frustration among youths in Kogi State is no longer a whisper—it is a loud cry for responsible governance. Under the administration of Governor Usman Ododo, unemployment remains one of the most pressing challenges confronting the state, yet it has received little concrete attention.
Thousands of educated and skilled youths continue to roam the streets without jobs, hope, or direction. These are graduates and trained professionals who should be actively contributing to the state’s development. Instead, they are left idle while the government celebrates projects that offer little long-term value to human development.
One of the most glaring examples of misplaced priorities is the continuous renovation of public schools across the state without addressing the core problems in the education sector. Many of these renovated schools lack qualified teachers, adequate learning materials, and in some cases, even students. Classrooms without teachers cannot deliver quality education, no matter how beautiful the buildings appear.
Education thrives on human resources, not paint and concrete. Recruiting teachers would not only improve learning outcomes but also provide employment for qualified youths. Unfortunately, this opportunity has been ignored, leaving both the education sector and unemployed youths to suffer simultaneously.
Youth unemployment is a dangerous situation that demands urgent action. A government that fails to engage its youths risks increased crime, social unrest, and long-term economic stagnation. Development must be people-centered, not project-centered.
Governor Usman Ododo’s administration must understand that governance goes beyond ribbon-cutting ceremonies. The real measure of success lies in the lives improved, jobs created, and futures secured. Kogi State youths are not asking for miracles—they are asking for opportunities, dignity, and inclusion.
Until deliberate efforts are made to create jobs and recruit teachers to match infrastructural investments, the state’s development narrative will remain incomplete. Kogi youths deserve more than renovated walls; they deserve a future. (edited)
– Bamidele Patrick Rotimi
Kogi State
