Leading the Next Generation of

Muazu Hamidudu Jantabo

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Thank you, @itz_lucho. My approach to mentorship flows naturally from my personal philosophy of "Created to Create". I believe that every position I occupy, every relationship I hold, and every resource I access must be used to refine and raise others. Identifying young leaders is therefore not an afterthought for me, it is a deliberate, daily commitment. I look beyond noise and popularity to find young people with character, hunger, and capacity, then I deliberately expose them to governance, decision-making, and responsibility until leadership becomes natural to them. The emergence of a young Local Government Chairman under my guidance is a living testimony of this philosophy in action. It did not happen overnight. it was the result of consistent mentorship, strategic positioning, and belief in his potential even before others could see it and as long as am alive, I will continue to open doors, share knowledge, and invest in young leaders, because the greatest legacy any leader can leave is not what they built, but who they built.

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Muazu Hamidudu Jantabo

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Thank you for that important question, @HASPhD. The state of out-of-school children in our local communities remains a serious concern, particularly in rural areas where poverty, distance, early marriage, and child labour continue to keep children, especially girls, away from the classroom. Addressing this requires a coordinated, institutional response, and that is exactly what is happening. The Niger State At-Risk Children Program is the lead agency championing this cause, with a clear mandate to collaborate with MDAs across the state, including our ministry, to tackle the out-of-school children crisis headon. Currently, an active initiative to re-engage children in school and equip them with practical skills is already underway in Bosso, Chanchaga, and Paikoro Local Government. Our ministry is proudly part of this collaboration, and we are working closely with the Niger State At-Risk Children Program to expand these activities to other local government areas across the state. Our commitment is clear: every child in Niger State deserves to be in a classroom, and through this partnership we will ensure that no community is left behind.

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Muazu Hamidudu Jantabo

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Thank you for that thoughtful observation, @abdoolnda, and I must say, the energy and enthusiasm young people are bringing into governance in Lapai Local Government is truly inspiring and something I am proud to be associated with. You are absolutely right that balance is key. While we champion youth participation in politics and governance, we respect the wisdom, experience, and institutional knowledge that the older generation brings to the table. Our approach is not to replace one with the other, but to build a complementary relationship where both generations work hand in hand. The elders provide the roadmap of experience, while the youth bring innovation, technology, and fresh perspectives. Going forward, our goal is to institutionalise intergenerational governance at the local government level in Lapai. This means mentorship programmes where seasoned leaders guide young politicians, joint committees that blend youthful energy with experienced leadership, and a deliberate policy of inclusion that ensures neither generation feels sidelined.

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Muazu Hamidudu Jantabo

Official response

Thank you, @pelemi01. Long-term development planning is exactly the kind of conversation we need more of, and I am glad the public is holding us accountable to it. For Lapai Local Government specifically, our vision is build on the Next Generation Blueprint - a comprehensive long-term development framework built around agricultural value chain development, skills acquisition, and small business enablement. Lapai has enormous untapped agricultural potential, and we are working to establish processing hubs and cooperatives that will take our young people beyond subsistence farming into agribusiness. We are also pushing for the establishment of a functional vocational and entrepreneurship centre in Lapai that will equip youth with marketable skills in trades, technology, and creative industries. At the broader Niger State level, our long-term plan feeds into the state government's development agenda by ensuring that local governments are not just administrative units but economic engines. We are advocating for a dedicated small business support fund accessible at the local government level, reduction of bureaucratic bottlenecks for business registration, and the creation of local market infrastructure that gives small business owners a platform to thrive.

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