INT'L YOUTH DAY 2026: TURNAH CALLS FOR A NEW SOCIAL CONTRACT WITH BAYELSA YOUTHS

Yenagoa, Bayelsa State - The Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Bayelsa State, Hon. Chief Alabh George Turnah (MON), Esq., has warmly felicitated with young people across Bayelsa State, the Niger Delta and Nigeria on the occasion of the 2026 International Youth Day, urging governments, political leaders and other stakeholders to move beyond rhetoric and deliberately create opportunities that enable young people to thrive.

In a statement signed and made available to journalists by his media assistant, Kelvin Loveday-Egbo, Hon. Turnah described the youth as the most valuable human resource of any society, noting that their energy, creativity, courage and capacity for innovation remain indispensable to the development of Bayelsa State and Nigeria.

According to him, "International Youth Day should not merely be a day for speeches and celebration, but an opportunity to critically examine the conditions under which young people live, learn, work and participate in society."

He particularly expressed concern over the challenges confronting many Bayelsa youths, including unemployment, rising cost of living, inadequate economic opportunities, limited access to skills development and the growing difficulty of translating their talents and education into sustainable livelihoods.

The PDP Chairman said "Bayelsa, with its enormous human and natural resources, should be a place where young people can build successful lives without having to abandon their communities in search of opportunities elsewhere."

He called on the Bayelsa State Government to place youth development at the centre of its governance agenda by expanding genuine skills acquisition, entrepreneurship, employment, education, sports, technology and creative-industry programmes, while ensuring that such initiatives are transparent, measurable and accessible to young people across all Local Government Areas.

Turnah further challenged political leaders to create greater space for young people within the political process, stressing that youths should not be remembered only when their energy and numbers are needed during elections.

“Let us stop seeing young people merely as campaign crowds, mobilisers and voting numbers. Give them seats at the table. Give them responsibility. Listen to their ideas. Trust their capacity and allow them to participate meaningfully in shaping the policies that will determine their future,” he said.

He urged Bayelsa youths to equally embrace responsibility, discipline, education, enterprise and peaceful political participation, cautioning them against violence, criminality, drug abuse and every form of activity capable of destroying their future.

The PDP Chairman assured young people in Bayelsa that the Party under his leadership remained committed to building a political culture where competence, character, ideas and service are rewarded, and where young people could rise through genuine participation and hard work.

He noted that "the future of Bayelsa cannot be secured by government alone, but through a partnership involving government, the private sector, communities, political organisations and, most importantly, young people themselves."

“As we celebrate our youths today, let us remember that the Bayelsa we desire tomorrow is being built by the young people we empower, educate, inspire and entrust with responsibility today,” Turnah said.

He therefore called for a renewed commitment to building a Bayelsa where every young person, irrespective of community, background, gender or economic circumstance, has the opportunity to discover their potential, develop their talent and contribute meaningfully to society.

Turnah wished all Bayelsa youths and young people across Nigeria a meaningful and inspiring International Youth Day celebration, assuring them that their aspirations, struggles and contributions must remain central to the struggle for a better and more prosperous Bayelsa State.