Osun State Governor-elect, Senator Ademola Adeleke has promised to institute sustainable youth development agenda to harness the huge potential of youth when he assumes office in November.
Addressing youth development leaders, who paid him a courtesy call on the occasion of International Youth Day, Senator Adeleke described youths as a major asset and positive force for state development”.
He affirmed that the productive energy of youth and their incredible expertise in various fields must be tapped into for their positive transition to adulthood.
“I know the incumbent had prepared a state youth policy but it has no implementation plan and also has a lot of missing gaps. So the document is not yet the best for Osun State.
The Governor-Elect said his agenda included a revision of the policy to integrate global youth innovations as well as an actionable plan localized and domesticated for the peculiar environment.
He said “As youth is a multi-sectoral matter, my administration will not only mainstream youth issues across the sectors, we will strive hard to address the key challenges facing Osun youths today namely high rate of unemployment, hostile entrepreneurship environment, deepening drug addiction, harsh educational circumstances among others.
“My administration will introduce solutions based on the peculiarities of each youth group such that entrepreneurship programmes will be tailored towards the needs of each youth cohort. Access to finance will be designed to link up with each group’s needs. School access and support programmes will follow a similar line to ensure inclusiveness among others.
“My administration also has huge agenda on the digital economy focusing on the legendary skills of our youth in ICT. We will emphasise youth digital skills, and promote e-commerce and e-business. Our government will implement agro-preneural programmes targeting graduates, youth gender inclusiveness and Osun as green youth driven state are all embedded in our plans for the state”, Senator Adeleke noted.
Speaking earlier, the leader of the youth development coalition, Rotimi Adeniran said the visit was meant to celebrate the International Youth Day with the Governor-Elect and to intimate him on the state of the youth sector in Osun.
While congratulating Senator Adeleke for his victory at the poll, Adeniran said the state had a youth policy that had not been implemented, urging him to make his administration youth-friendly and youth-supportive.
