Health
Gombe policy to ensure wellbeing of youths — Youth Parliament
The Gombe State Youth Parliament has commended Governor Muhammadu Yahaya for approving the state’s Strategic Youth Policy, saying the initiative will strengthen efforts to improve the wellbeing, healthcare access and overall development of young people in the state.
The commendation was made on Monday during the commencement of the 2026 Youth Week organised by the Gombe State Youth Parliament.
The week, themed “Youth Empowerment for a Sustainable Future,” began with a rally from the Emir’s Palace to the Government House, Gombe, before members held the fourth sitting of the Youth Parliament at the Gombe State House of Assembly.
The Youth Parliament, currently in its third session, used the fourth sitting to deliberate on issues affecting young people, including healthcare, responsible use of digital platforms, entrepreneurship and opportunities for youth development.
Speaking during the sitting, the Speaker of the Youth Parliament, Danladi Aliyu, said the approval of the Strategic Youth Policy demonstrated the commitment of the state government to addressing the needs of young people and ensuring their well-being.
“We thank Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya and the Gombe State Executive Council for approving the strategic youth policy. The government has shown that it is youth-oriented,” Aliyu said.
He said the policy would provide a framework for addressing challenges confronting young people while creating opportunities for them to reach their full potential.
According to him, the well-being of young people should remain central to government policies, particularly through access to healthcare, empowerment opportunities and programmes that promote healthy and productive lifestyles.
“Over some time, we have been advocating for this policy. We are grateful that the State Executive Council has approved the strategic document. It will support youths in the state to realise their full potential because it is aligned with the state development agenda,” he said.
Aliyu added that the Youth Parliament would continue to engage government and other stakeholders on policies capable of improving the quality of life of young people across the state.
As part of the activities marking the Youth Week, organisers also highlighted healthcare interventions, with a medical outreach included among programmes designed to directly benefit young people.
Commenting shortly after the sitting, Special Assistant on Student Affairs, Al-amin Bako, said the inclusion of healthcare activities was important because young people needed to be healthy to take advantage of educational, entrepreneurial and other development opportunities.
Bako, a former President of the Gombe State Students Association, said the revival of youth-focused structures had created an opportunity for government and young people to work together in addressing challenges affecting the younger population.
“Since 2020 to 2022, there has not been any celebration from the Ministry of Youth and the parliament. Alhamdulillah, with the resuscitation of the ministry and the parliament, we have organised a week which comprises medical outreach and entrepreneurship for our youth in the state,” Bako said.
He said the activities were intended to provide young people with practical opportunities while promoting greater attention to their health and welfare.
The parliament also deliberated on the responsible use of social media and the need to address cyberbullying among young people, with members proposing a citizenship and literacy programme to promote responsible digital behaviour.
A member of the parliament, Adam Ishayaku, said responsible digital citizenship was important for protecting young people from the negative consequences of social media misuse.
He said the programme would equip youths with the knowledge required to use digital platforms productively and avoid activities capable of harming themselves or others.
Also speaking, the National President of the Gombe State Students Association, Muhammad Hamza, described his participation in the Youth Parliament as an opportunity to understand the role young people could play in governance and development.
“Mr Speaker, this is my first time being in the sitting of the Youth Parliament, and I’m truly honoured to be here today,” Hamza said.
He urged young people to remain united and actively contribute to the development of the state, noting that collective action was necessary to address challenges confronting youths.
“We, the youth, are windows of hope and managers of revolution. So we must always contribute to the success of each and every one of us,” he said.
Hamza also stressed the importance of unity among young people, saying cooperation would strengthen their ability to advocate for policies that improve their welfare and wellbeing.
“Whenever I find myself in a gathering of young people like this, I give some advice: unity. I believe unity is one important thing in society, which I believe no society or nation progresses without unity,” he said.
The 2026 Youth Week is expected to feature programmes focused on healthcare, entrepreneurship, empowerment and youth development as the Youth Parliament seeks to deepen engagement with young people and promote policies that support their wellbeing across Gombe State.
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