Yahaya Bello Receives Award for Excellence in Youth Development at Abuja Iftar
Former Governor of Kogi State, His Excellency Yahaya Bello, CON, on Friday hosted a delegation of staff from the National Defence College to an Iftar dinner at his residence in Abuja.
The visit provided an opportunity for the delegation to formally present the “Award of Recognition” conferred on the former governor for “Excellence in Youth Inclusivity and Development in Nigeria” during the Strategic Youth Conference 2025. Alhaji Yahaya Bello, who was a Special Guest at the Conference jointly organised by the National Defence College (NDC), Abuja and the Federal Ministry of Youth Development (FMYD) was otherwise engaged necessitating it's presentation at this latter date.
While presenting the award, members of the delegation highlighted strong achievements of the recipient, Yahaya Bello, in Youth Inclusivity and Development both during and after his tenure as Governor of Kogi State.
They also commended his efforts in strengthening security across the state, promoting gender equity in governance and demonstrating strong commitment to education, infrastructure development, and human capital development.
The delegation noted that these initiatives significantly contributed to expanding opportunities for young people and women in leadership and public service, while also improving the overall socio-economic landscape of the state during his tenure.
In his remarks, Yahaya Bello expressed appreciation to the organisers of the Strategic Youth Conference and the leadership of the National Defence College for finding him worthy of the recognition. He described the award as both humbling and motivating, noting that such gestures inspire him to continue contributing to initiatives that promote youth empowerment, national development, and inclusive governance in Nigeria.
He also commended the institution for its continued role in shaping strategic leadership and fostering policy conversations that advance the country’s security and development objectives.
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