YPEI Calls on Youth to Champion National Development

By Chinedu Echianu

Calls for unity, security, and active civic engagement took centre stage in Abuja as the Youth Progressive Empowerment Initiative (YPEI) inaugurated and launched offices across the 36 states of the federation.

YPEI, a movement led by Comrade Barnabas Ishaya aims at empowering young people with the skills, knowledge and resources needed to become active citizens and leaders while encouraging them to participate in the democratic process, policy making and community development.

Speaking at the event, Minister of Defence, General Christopher Musa (retired) who served as Chairman of the Occasion, emphasised the role of young people in sustaining peace and national development.

He underscored security, unity, and progress as essential pillars for Nigeria’s future.

The minister who was represented by a Special Assistant in the legal department of the defence ministry, Barrister Abbussamad Ibrahim urged youths to embrace coexistence and act as ambassadors of peace within their communities, noting that development cannot thrive in the absence of unity and stability.

According to him, participants should carry the message of peace and collective responsibility back to their communities and actively contribute to nation-building.

National Chairman of YPEI, Comrade Barnabas Ishaya, expressed satisfaction with the turnout, which he said reflected participation from all 36 states and the country’s 774 local government areas.

He described the initiative as a movement aimed at promoting good leadership and amplifying youth participation in governance.

Ishaya encouraged young Nigerians to obtain their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs), stressing that meaningful change requires active participation in the electoral process.

He also disclosed that the organisation plans to begin distributing empowerment support to participants, with further programmes expected before the end of the year. He appealed to partner organisations and non-governmental organisations to collaborate with the initiative to expand its impact.

Also speaking at the event, Benue State Coordinator of YPEI Amos Kwave highlighted the programme’s dual focus on education and economic empowerment.

He explained that participants were being trained to improve both financial literacy and mental capacity, while some would benefit from material support to start small businesses.

Kwave noted that the initiative aims to empower between 200 and 300 youths during the programme, including providing point-of-sale (POS) machines and startup funds to help them become financially independent.

He added that the broader rally targeted about 15,000 youths nationwide, reinforcing the group’s commitment to equipping young people with the tools to thrive.

The inauguration of the state offices marks a significant expansion for YPEI, positioning the organisation to deepen its engagement with young Nigerians and promote participation in community development and democratic processes.