Benue Youth Summit 2025 Highlights Policy Dialogue on Sports and Creative Economy.
The Benue Youth Summit 2025, themed “Policy Stakeholders’ Engagement”, on the 23-27th October, 2025, brought together government officials, policy experts, creatives, athletes, and youth leaders to deliberate on strategies for youth development in the state. Held in Makurdi, the summit focused on sports policy, creative economy polic y, and other youth-centered reforms aimed at economic empowerment and social inclusion.
Key sessions examined how structured sports policies can serve as tools for talent discovery, job creation, and social cohesion. Stakeholders emphasized the need for improved infrastructure, grassroots sports funding, and private-sector partnerships.
Roots Media Initiative headed the Creative Economy Group led by the Chief Strategist, Onwanyi Ulegede. Discussions on the creative economy highlighted opportunities in music, film, fashion, and digital content, with calls for supportive legislation, funding access, and capacity-building programs.
Participants also addressed challenges such as unemployment, policy implementation gaps, and limited youth representation in decision-making. The summit concluded with a call for sustained collaboration between government and youth stakeholders to translate policy ideas into measurable outcomes for Benue’s young population.
