Three-term former member of the House of Representatives for Kabba-Bunu/Ijumu Federal Constituency, Hon. TeeJay Yusuf, has pledged to replicate his developmental achievements in the constituency if elected to represent Kogi West Senatorial District in the National Assembly in 2027.
Yusuf, an economist, grassroots politician, real estate entrepreneur and member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Board of Trustees (BoT), made this known during an exclusive interview with THE TRUMPET NEWSPAPER.
Key Highlights
- TeeJay Yusuf has pledged to replicate his Kabba-Bunu/Ijumu achievements if elected senator for Kogi West in 2027.
- He said value reorientation and legitimate economic opportunities are needed to tackle youth unemployment and internet fraud.
- Yusuf warned that a “Yahoo-Yahoo mentality” is also beginning to manifest in Nigerian politics.
- He plans to engage companies such as Dangote and Mangal to strengthen corporate social responsibility in host communities.
- He identified education and entrepreneurship as key parts of his youth empowerment strategy.
- He said his experience in the House of Representatives could drive similar development across Kogi West.
Yusuf Says Youth Unemployment Needs Values and Opportunities
He said his decision to contest the Kogi West senatorial seat was driven by his desire to provide effective representation, empower young people, expand economic opportunities and attract greater development to the district.
According to him, tackling youth unemployment and the growing attraction of young people to internet fraud, popularly known as “Yahoo-Yahoo,” requires a combination of value reorientation and the creation of legitimate economic opportunities.
Yusuf said young people must be made to understand that success can be achieved through legitimate means, stressing that society must provide them with role models and practical alternatives to criminal activities.
“The first thing is to drum it into their ears that you can make money legally without engaging in illegal activities,” he said.
He, however, noted that the problem goes beyond internet fraud, as what he described as a “Yahoo-Yahoo mentality” was also beginning to manifest in Nigerian politics.
According to him, some young people now regard politics as a profession despite having no sustainable means of livelihood, spending their time waiting for election periods and moving from one politician to another in search of opportunities.
He said reversing the trend would require deliberate efforts to restore values among young people.
Role Models to Mentor Young People
Yusuf proposed the involvement of respected community leaders, successful professionals and other role models in mentoring youths and sharing their experiences with them.
“There is nothing more powerful than someone who grew up in the same community, faced similar challenges and eventually succeeded sitting down with young people and telling them how he or she navigated those challenges,” he said.
The former lawmaker stressed that moral reorientation alone would not solve the problem, arguing that governments and political leaders must also create opportunities that allow young people to earn legitimate incomes.
Plan to Engage Companies on Corporate Social Responsibility
He said part of his plan, if elected, would be to engage major companies operating within Kogi West, including Dangote and Mangal, to strengthen their corporate social responsibility programmes and ensure that host communities benefit more directly from their operations.
Yusuf said questions must be asked about the level of employment and economic opportunities available to people living in communities where industrial activities are taking place.
“We need to ask important questions: What benefits are the people in these communities receiving? How many local people are these companies employing? How many drivers, supervisors and clerical workers are from the immediate communities?” he asked.
He also raised concerns over communities losing natural habitats or being displaced as industrial activities expand, saying such communities should receive tangible benefits in return.
“I believe that when we engage these companies constructively, they will understand why stronger community-focused corporate social responsibility is important. I intend to make that engagement a priority,” he said.
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Education and Entrepreneurship Central to Youth Empowerment Plan
Yusuf further identified education and entrepreneurship as key components of his proposed youth empowerment strategy.
He criticised what he described as an educational system that has historically prepared young people to seek employment rather than create jobs.
According to him, many graduates leave universities with the mindset that their next step should be submitting applications and waiting for employment.
He said the increasing introduction of entrepreneurship-focused courses and programmes in Nigerian universities was a positive development that should be strengthened.
Yusuf said his broader vision for Kogi West would focus on creating an environment where young people can acquire relevant skills, participate in the digital economy, establish businesses and contribute meaningfully to the development of their communities.
He expressed confidence that the experience gained from representing Kabba-Bunu/Ijumu Federal Constituency could be leveraged to drive similar development across Kogi West if given the mandate in 2027.
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