The Minister of Defence, Gen. Christopher Musa (retd.), has inaugurated a socio-political mobilisation platform, the Musawah for Youth and Development Initiative, aimed at galvanising support for the re-election of President Bola Tinubu and Kaduna State Governor, Uba Sani, ahead of the 2027 general elections, Arewa PUNCH reports.
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The initiative, also known as MUSAWAH 4 Y-D, was unveiled at the inauguration of its campaign office in Kaduna, with organisers describing it as a grassroots movement focused on youth engagement, civic participation and support for government development programmes.
The initiative, also known as MUSAWAH 4 Y-D, was unveiled at the inauguration of its campaign office in Kaduna, with organisers describing it as a grassroots movement focused on youth engagement, civic participation and support for government development programmes.
Speaking at the event through his Senior Special Assistant on Intelligence and Security, Gen. Bala Isandu (retd.), Musa urged members of the group to intensify mobilisation efforts at the community level, particularly in polling units, while promoting issue-based political engagement.
“Reject politics of bitterness. We will campaign on performance, not propaganda. The road to 2027 starts today and it starts with all of us together,” he said.
He said the initiative was not merely a political support structure but a platform designed to harness the energy of young Nigerians and women for national development and democratic participation.
“It gives me great joy to stand before you today at the inauguration of the MUSAWAH for Youth and Development Initiative. Today is not just the birth of another support group. It is the formal activation of a movement,” he said.
According to him, the group draws membership from farmers, students, artisans, professionals, women organisations and faith-based groups across Kaduna State, and is built on the principles of equality, inclusion and shared responsibility.
“Our country’s greatest asset is not oil or land — it is our youth. Over 60 per cent of Nigeria’s population is under 30. If we do not engage them, empower them and give them direction, we have failed,” he said.
Representing Governor Uba Sani, the State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, James Kanyip, said youth development remains central to addressing insecurity and social challenges in the country.
He linked rising insecurity to youth unemployment and lack of opportunities, noting that government interventions in skills acquisition and vocational training were aimed at reversing the trend.
“When we talk about youth development, we are not just talking about politics. Development transcends politics,” he said.
“A lot of bandits we have today are not old men… More than 90 per cent are youths because they have not been engaged,” he added.
Kanyip said the Kaduna State Government had expanded vocational training and human capital development programmes across the state to improve employability and reduce vulnerability among young people.
He, however, urged organisers to ensure that the initiative remains sustainable beyond political seasons.
“This should go beyond politics. Tomorrow, General Christopher Musa may not be Minister of Defence. Youth development must become a permanent programme,” he said.
Earlier, the National Coordinator of MUSAWAH 4 Y-D, Polycarp Gankon, said the group had already built a wide grassroots structure across Kaduna State.
He disclosed that 266 support groups had been registered under the initiative, cutting across farmers’ associations, student unions, women groups, artisans, faith-based organisations and professional bodies.
According to him, the structure spans all 255 wards in the state, with mobilisation reaching polling unit level.
“As of today, we have 266 support groups registered with MUSAWAH. There is no group that has less than 50 members,” he said.
Gankon added that the initiative had deployed 2,295 ward mobilisers and was targeting over 24,000 polling unit mobilisers to strengthen grassroots engagement ahead of the elections.
He said the organisation had also introduced youth-focused programmes, including artificial intelligence training, support for National Identification Number registration, and civic education campaigns aimed at improving political awareness.
“We organised free AI training for youths across the state, including university students and lecturers,” he said.
The event featured the formal inauguration of the initiative, with participants pledging support for youth empowerment, grassroots mobilisation and community development across Kaduna State and beyond.
