All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate in Gombe State, Dr. Jamil Isyaku Gwamna, has reaffirmed his commitment to youth development, mentorship and human capital investment, saying young people will remain central to his vision for the state.
Gwamna made the commitment in a statement issued by his spokesperson, Ibrahim Sani Shawai, on Wednesday, September 2, 2026, as political activities continue to build ahead of the 2027 Gombe governorship election.
The APC candidate said his interest in youth development goes beyond campaign promises, arguing that mentoring and supporting young people has been part of his activities over the years.
Gwamna Links Youth Development to Mentorship
According to Gwamna, several young people he has mentored and supported have gone on to excel in different fields, while those living outside Gombe State continue to represent the state in their respective areas of endeavour.
“I dedicate my struggle towards mentoring and building youths. Those I have built and mentored have excelled in their various fields of endeavour, doing a great service to our land. Those who are outside Gombe are also doing a great job as our ambassadors,” he said.
His emphasis on mentorship comes against the backdrop of increasing attention to youth participation and development in the unfolding Gombe political contest. The Bureau Journal previously reported another political development around Gwamna’s campaign, following the resignation of a former adviser to Professor Isa Ali Pantami who subsequently declared support for the APC candidate.
APC Candidate Promises More Opportunities for Young People
Gwamna said sustainable development would require deliberate investment in the younger generation, particularly through access to knowledge, practical skills, economic opportunities and an environment that allows young people to become productive.
He identified capacity building, innovation and entrepreneurship as areas that would receive attention under his proposed approach to youth development.
The candidate said the objective would be to help young people become more self-reliant and capable of contributing meaningfully to the economy rather than depending solely on government employment.
The position also comes amid wider discussions about the role of education, skills and entrepreneurship in preparing young Nigerians for changing economic conditions. The Bureau Journal recently reported on the inauguration of Africa’s first renewable energy college in Kogi, an initiative focused on technical training, innovation and preparing young Nigerians for emerging opportunities.
Gwamna Commends Inuwa Yahaya’s Youth Initiatives
Gwamna also acknowledged the youth-development and empowerment initiatives undertaken by the administration of Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya.
He said those efforts had provided a foundation that a future administration could build upon, adding that his government would seek to consolidate existing programmes while introducing additional opportunities for young people.
His comments are consistent with the wider political messaging surrounding his governorship campaign, which has increasingly focused on continuity, human capital and development.
Earlier, The Bureau Journal reported that young scholars in Gombe had expressed support for Gwamna’s stated commitment to children and youth development, following a scholarship programme involving youths from the state.
Human Capital Development Takes Centre Stage
For Gwamna, youth development is closely connected to the broader question of human capital development in Gombe State.
He said investment in knowledge and skills should be accompanied by opportunities that enable young people to apply what they have learned, particularly in entrepreneurship, innovation and other productive sectors.
Such an approach, he argued, would help create a generation of young people capable of contributing to the state’s economic growth and social development.
The emphasis on youth empowerment is also emerging as an important issue in the wider 2027 political conversation in Gombe. A recent Bureau Journal report examined the growing political conversation around the Gombe 2027 election, including the increasing role of social media in political mobilisation and public debate.
Gwamna’s Campaign Faces Intensifying Political Activity
Gwamna’s latest statement comes as political alignments continue to develop across Gombe State ahead of the 2027 election.
In recent months, his campaign has attracted endorsements and political support from different individuals and groups. The Bureau Journal reported in August that members of the political family of former Gombe Governor Abubakar Habu Hashidu declared support for Gwamna ahead of the governorship election.
Earlier in the year, a former Gombe State Secretary of the African Democratic Congress also defected to the APC and declared support for Gwamna’s governorship ambition.
These political developments form part of the wider contest taking shape in Gombe, although the eventual choice of voters will depend on the candidates, their programmes and the issues that dominate the campaign as the election approaches.
Gwamna Assures Gombe Youths
Gwamna said his commitment to young people would remain focused on practical empowerment, mentorship and creating opportunities for them to build sustainable livelihoods.
He maintained that young people should be equipped with the knowledge, skills and support required to become productive members of society and contribute to the development of Gombe State.
For The Bureau Journal, the latest pledge places youth development among the issues likely to feature prominently in the 2027 Gombe governorship contest, particularly as political parties and candidates increasingly outline their plans for the state’s next phase of development.
Gwamna’s statement was signed by Ibrahim Sani Shawai, spokesperson to the APC governorship candidate.
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