The Chairman of Oyo State Agency for Youth Development, Prince Adebowale Falana, has stated that the agency’s efforts towards youth development in the state are beginning to yield positive results.
Falana made this known on Friday during a press conference held at the conference room of the agency in Ibadan to commemorate his one year in office.
He noted that the agency, over the past year, has implemented various initiatives aimed at empowering youths across the state.
He commended Governor ‘Seyi Makinde for his unrelenting commitment to youth development through pro-youth initiatives and policies. Falana also highlighted some of the agency’s achievements over the last 12 months.
According to him, one of the notable interventions was a partnership with The Polytechnic, Ibadan, designed to equip young people with vocational and technical skills.
Looking ahead, he revealed plans by the agency to establish a Technology Hub and Skill Acquisition Centre, where youths will be able to access training opportunities for a token fee.
In addition, the agency is collaborating with the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN) to empower at least 5,000 youths across the state. This initiative is aimed at providing them with practical skills and industry experience.
Falana further disclosed that the agency is currently engaging six registered youth stakeholder groups, including the Association of Oyo State Youth Platforms (ASOYOUP), to ensure inclusivity and broader impact of its programmes.
“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.
“We are set to empower our youths and expose them to mentorship and internship opportunities that will enhance their development.”
Reflecting on the recent Oyo Youth Summit, Falana said the event is already making a significant impact by changing the mindset of young people towards self-reliance.
However, he identified one of the major challenges faced by the agency as the prevailing mindset among youths.
“The major challenge we are facing is changing the mindset of our youths, due to the growing spirit of entitlement. Our youths must be ready to embrace our programmes and policies,” he stated.
He however, urged youths in the state to take full advantage of the various opportunities being provided by the agency, reaffirming the Makinde administration’s dedication to youth development and empowerment.