Governor Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa State has cautioned young people against being misled by false political claims, stressing that no All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship primary result has been altered. He urged them to channel their energy into productive ventures rather than street protests driven by misinformation.
The governor gave the advice on Wednesday while commissioning and distributing 50 solar-powered digital business kiosks to youth beneficiaries under the Sule Economic Empowerment and Development Scheme (SEEDS) at the Wing Commander Abdullahi Ibrahim Vocational and Technical Institute in Lafia.
Governor Sule described the initiative as a practical demonstration of his administration’s commitment to youth empowerment, entrepreneurship and improving the ease of doing business in the state.
He commended the fact that the kiosks were designed and fabricated locally at the Wing Commander Abdullahi Ibrahim Vocational and Technical Institute, saying the project showcased the high level of technical skills and craftsmanship available in Nasarawa State and compared favourably with imported products.
According to the governor, each kiosk, valued at approximately ₦2.5 million, is equipped to provide a wide range of digital services, including JAMB and WAEC result checking, DSTV and GOtv subscription payments, electricity bill payments, bank account opening, debit card issuance, flight ticket booking, hotel reservations, data and airtime sales, as well as solar-powered phone charging for multiple devices simultaneously.
He explained that the distribution of 50 kiosks marks the pilot phase of the programme, which is intended to test its sustainability before expanding to more beneficiaries. He noted that beneficiaries had also received more than the usual ₦100,000 working capital to ensure they started the business on a stronger footing.
Governor Sule disclosed that Nasarawa State recently emerged the sole beneficiary following deliberations with the President and Vice President on the report of the National Working Technical Committee on agriculture. He further revealed that the state had also secured a $17 million World Bank ACReSAL grant, which remains unspent and could be deployed to expand youth empowerment initiatives such as SEEDS.
He challenged the beneficiaries to treat the kiosks as viable business enterprises rather than government handouts, assuring them that if the pilot programme proves successful within the next three to four months, his administration would commit ₦2.5 billion to expand the initiative to 1,000 digital kiosks across the state.
Earlier, the Commissioner for Youth and Sports Development, Hon. Kwanta Yakubu, said the ministry developed the SEEDS programme after identifying poor coordination among previous youth empowerment initiatives implemented by different government agencies.
He explained that the first phase involved training 50 young people in financial technology before deploying the kiosks, adding that the ministry was finalising a broader Socio-Economic Empowerment Development Scheme strategic plan for implementation between 2026 and 2030 across the state’s 13 local government areas. The programme, he said, would target unemployed graduates, artisans, vocational trainees, aspiring entrepreneurs, rural youth and women.
Representing the development partner, Pinnacle Hi-Tech, Mr. John Uzor described the kiosks as solar-powered, one-stop business centres equipped with point-of-sale terminals pre-funded with ₦100,000, phone-charging outlets, solar-powered fans and internet connectivity.
He added that beneficiaries underwent entrepreneurship and operational training through a partnership with the Small and Medium Enterprise Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN) to ensure the sustainability of their businesses.
The Executive Director of the Wing Commander Abdullahi Ibrahim Vocational and Technical Institute, Dr. Ewuga Esele, said the successful local fabrication of the kiosks demonstrated the technical competence of Nasarawa youths and appealed for the initiative to be expanded across the state in view of the growing public interest.
Also speaking, the Chairman of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON) in Nasarawa State, Hon. Safiyanu Isa Andaha, commended Governor Sule for prioritising youth development and pledged the continued support of local government chairmen for the programme.
Responding on behalf of the beneficiaries, Solomon Egye thanked the state government for the opportunity and promised that the beneficiaries would make productive use of the empowerment initiative.