By Zaharaddeen Ishaq Abubakar | Katsina Times,

KATSINA, August 24, 2026 

Katsina State Deputy Governor, Malam Faruq Lawal Jobe, has urged young people in the state to reject the notion that they are merely “leaders of tomorrow”, stressing that leadership opportunities must begin in the present.

Jobe made the call on Monday while speaking at the inauguration of the Katsina State Youth Parliament Leadership and Mentorship Training Programme at Alhujrat Royal Suite, Katsina.

The deputy governor said age should not be used as a barrier to leadership, citing the example of former Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon, who became Nigeria’s military leader at the age of 32.

“How many of you here are above 32 and still consider yourself a student, thinking that the opportunity belongs to some of us?” Jobe asked the participants.

He urged the youth to prepare themselves for leadership challenges, insisting that the time to start developing leadership capacity is now.

“You are leaders of today. Don’t allow anybody to deceive you that you are leaders of tomorrow,” he said.

Jobe said the administration of Governor Dikko Umaru Radda had recognised the importance of youth inclusion in governance and had created opportunities for young people to participate in government and strategic decision-making.

According to him, effective leadership requires three fundamental qualities: capacity, commitment and integrity.

He explained that commitment includes hard work, while capacity goes beyond possessing individual skills.

“Capacity as a leader is when you have the capacity to assemble a team, because you can’t do it alone,” Jobe said.

The deputy governor, who revealed that he is also a farmer, described farming as a lifetime profession, unlike conventional civil service careers where workers retire after attaining the required age or years of service.

He commended the organisers of the youth parliament programme, saying mentorship and leadership training would help young people identify their potentials, build confidence and confront challenges.

Programme Designed to Build Future Leaders — Commissioner

The Commissioner for Youth and Sports Development, Engr. Surajo Yazid Abukur, said the programme reflected the state government’s commitment to youth inclusion, leadership development, mentorship and empowerment.

Abukur said the establishment of the Katsina State Youth Parliament, alongside leadership and mentorship training, was designed to ensure that young people were not merely observers of governance but active participants in decision-making.

He said the 10-day programme would expose participants to governance, democracy, legislative processes, public policy, communication, teamwork, negotiation and critical leadership skills.

The commissioner urged participants to make maximum use of the lectures, mentorship sessions, discussions and practical exercises, and to return to their communities as better-equipped ambassadors.

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He also called on government institutions, traditional institutions, civil society organisations, development partners and the private sector to support initiatives aimed at building the capacity of young people.

755 Applicants Screened for Youth Parliament

Speaking to journalists, the Speaker of the Nigerian Parliament, Coordinator of the Leadership and Mentorship Training Programme, Hon. Aliyu Idris Zakari, said the initiative was primarily designed to strengthen youth inclusion in governance.

Zakari said the programme would subsequently cover executive leadership and career guidance, adding that the legislative component was intended to equip young people with practical knowledge of parliamentary procedures, lawmaking, motions, representation and policymaking.

He disclosed that 755 young people applied for the programme after the state government opened an online, merit-based application process for interested youths aged 18 to 27.

According to him, the applications were screened with the support of a consultancy from the National Assembly, after which three candidates were shortlisted from each local government for further interviews.

The final selection produced representatives for the youth parliament, which is designed to mirror the state legislature.

Zakari urged the selected participants to consider the opportunity a responsibility and to become good ambassadors of Katsina State.

‘I Want to Become an Exceptional Leader’ — Malumfashi Representative

One of the participants, Hadiza Malumfashi Shehu, who represents Malumfashi Local Government, described the initiative as a major opportunity to prepare young people for leadership.

She said she hoped to acquire practical knowledge and leadership skills that would help her become an exceptional representative.

“I am proud to be representing Malumfashi. I will, as much as possible, advocate for the needs of my people and the challenges they are facing,” she said.

Bakori Representative Promises Good Representation

Also speaking, Muhammad Sagir Suleman, the representative of Bakori Local Government, said the programme would deepen his understanding of legislative processes.

Suleman said he expected to learn how bills are drafted, motions are passed and effective representation is delivered.

He promised that young people in Bakori would receive stronger representation through the knowledge and experience gained from the programme.

“The primary function of the legislature is lawmaking, amendment of laws and contribution to policies, but above all is representation,” he said.

He added that issues affecting young people in Bakori would be raised and pursued through appropriate legislative channels.

The Katsina State Youth Parliament Leadership and Mentorship Training Programme is expected to run for 10 days, bringing together selected young people from across the state for intensive leadership, legislative and mentorship activities.