By Chinedu Adonu

ActionAid Nigeria, in collaboration with the Enugu State Government and the South Saharan Social Development Organization (SSDO), has commenced a capacity-building programme for Local Government Chairmen across the 17 council areas of Enugu State.

The two-day event, themed “Institutional Strengthening and Agenda Setting Meeting with Enugu State LG Chairmen,” aims to promote inclusive development and transformative leadership at the grassroots.

Speaking during the event, Country Director of ActionAid Nigeria, Celestine Odo, emphasized the importance of inclusive governance, especially in addressing the needs of young people.

“Today’s dialogue presents a platform to align priorities, strengthen partnerships, and set a clear agenda that reflects the realities and aspirations of youth across the local governments,” Odo said.

He noted that the training offers an opportunity to strengthen local government institutions for effective and gender-responsive public service delivery, emphasizing that LGAs are closest to the people and, therefore, best positioned to implement impactful change.

The programme, he added, will also help identify key local government priorities, promote youth engagement in governance, and build institutional resilience.

Declaring the training open, Enugu State Governor, Dr. Peter Mbah—represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Chidiebere Onyia—described the meeting as a vital step toward aligning state and local government agendas with community needs.

“This platform gives elected chairmen the opportunity to engage stakeholders and design strategies that promote prosperity,” Mbah stated.

During a session on insecurity, the Chairman of Igbo-Etiti Local Government Area, Hon. Eric Odo, called on the Federal Government to declare armed herdsmen as terrorists, noting that their violent activities have crippled farming and food production.

“We must call a spade a spade. The issue of armed herders is a national menace. For peace to return and our people to return to their farms, the federal government must summon the political courage to declare them a terrorist organization,” Odo insisted.

He urged President Tinubu’s security advisers to recognize the urgency of the situation and take decisive action to curb the threat.

Also speaking, security consultant Uche Okanume presented an overview of Enugu State’s security situation and advised LG chairmen to strengthen Neighborhood Watch groups and Forest Guards to ensure rapid response to threats and early warning signals.

On his part, Stanley Ikechukwu, Executive Director of SSDO, urged LG chairmen to prioritize the inclusion of youth needs in their budgets, lamenting that insecurity has eroded the basic livelihoods of rural communities.

“People are afraid to go to their farms. The fear of being attacked has created food insecurity and disrupted rural economies,” he said.

The event concluded with a renewed commitment from participants to work collectively in addressing the twin challenges of insecurity and youth exclusion through transformative and inclusive local governance.