The Progressive Governors Forum, on Thursday, honoured Governor Uba Sani of Kaduna State with a Special Recognition Award for what it described as his “exemplary leadership, visionary reforms and people-centred governance,” particularly in youth development, innovation and inclusive growth.
The award was presented during the opening of the PGF Quarterly Meeting of Commissioners for Youth and Sports in APC-controlled states, held in Kaduna, Kaduna State.
The Forum’s Director-General, Folorunso Aluko, who presented the plaque on behalf of the governors, said the Forum was recognising Sani’s “unwavering commitment to progressive values and measurable development across critical sectors.”
“Governor Uba Sani is a reform-minded leader with a clear focus on impact. His work in education, health, industrialisation and youth empowerment stands out,” Aluko said.
The PGF described the governor’s leadership as visionary and transparent, applauding his administration’s investments in digital learning, agricultural modernisation, rural transformation and security, which it said had become benchmarks for good governance at the sub-national level.
Receiving the award on behalf of the governor, Deputy Governor Hadiza Balarabe, declared the meeting open and described Kaduna as “not just the host, but a model of youth-focused, inclusive governance.”
According to her, the event should serve as “a platform for practical policy realignment and collaborative solutions among APC states.”
“Governor Uba Sani’s administration is committed to equipping young people with the tools they need to thrive in today’s digital and entrepreneurial world,” she said.
She highlighted key initiatives under the administration, including the Kaduna Youth Economic Empowerment Programme (K-YEEP), which, she said, has supported over 6,000 startups in less than two years.
She also cited the establishment of Kaduna TechHUBs, where young people are being trained in artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, and robotics.
“Our Grassroots Sports Acceleration Initiative and the renovation of 18 community sports centres are part of our deliberate effort to foster unity and groom young talent,” the deputy governor said.
She commended the PGF Secretariat for strengthening state visibility through various documentation tools such as the PGF Executive Briefs, the Weekly Pulse in five languages, and several development tracking initiatives.
She also challenged youth and sports commissioners to focus on measurable impact rather than policy rhetoric
In her remarks at the event, the Kaduna State Commissioner for Youth Development, Gloria Ibrahim, called on her counterparts to take the opportunity to drive change across APC states.
“We gather not just for a meeting, but for a mission — to rewrite the narrative of youth development in Nigeria,” the commissioner said.
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