The youth have been encouraged to prioritize financial independence by acquiring relevant skills, maintaining focus, and showing resilience—without relying solely on government support or resorting to illegal activities.
This advice was given by the Chairman of the Oyo State Agency for Youth Development, Prince Adebowale Falana, during a press briefing held at the State Secretariat.
Highlighting the state government’s achievements in youth engagement through business and skill acquisition programs—both in digital sectors and traditional vocations—Falana stressed the importance of including youth stakeholders in development processes. He noted ongoing collaboration with both state and federal bodies to further drive youth development initiatives.
“Our first year has been challenging, but our efforts are yielding results. My aim is to ensure that youths in the state benefit directly from government policies,” he said.
Among the initiatives highlighted was a collaboration with The Polytechnic, Ibadan, aimed at equipping youths with vocational and technical skills. Falana also disclosed plans to establish a Technology Hub and Skill Acquisition Centre, where young people can access training opportunities for a token fee.
“We are set to empower our youths and expose them to mentorship and internship opportunities that will enhance their development,” he said.
Prince Falana revealed that the agency is currently engaging six registered youth stakeholder groups, including the Association of Oyo State Youth Platforms, to ensure that programmes are inclusive and far-reaching.
Reflecting on the recent Oyo Youth Summit, the chairman noted that the event is already making a positive impact by changing the orientation of young people toward self-reliance.
However, he acknowledged that mindset change remains a significant challenge.
“The major challenge we are facing is changing the mindset of our youths due to the growing spirit of entitlement. Our young people must be ready to embrace our programmes and policies,” he stressed.
He also announced new programmes aimed at empowering thousands of youths across Oyo State. Notably, the agency is partnering with the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN) to train and empower at least 5,000 young people statewide.
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