A team of government officials, led by the Chairman of the Oyo State Agency for Youth Development, Hon. Adebowale Adebayo Falana, has visited the moribund Youth Center in Durbar, Oyo township for an on the spot assessment of the facility.
Adebowale during the facility tour yesterday, June 6, lamented its abandonment for many years leading to its dilapidation and subsequently becoming moribund, describing it as a waste of valuable asset to the state.
The visit, it was gathered was part of the ongoing tour of youth development centers across the various geopolitical zones in the state with a view to putting them back to effective public use.
Speaking at the development center in Oyo, Adebowale noted that his visit was a fact-finding mission to personally assess the facility’s condition and determine ways to best remodel it and put it to proper use for youth development.
The Durbar Youth Center, once a hub of activity for young people in Oyo town has been abandoned for over a decade. The uncompleted building has fallen into disrepair, with crumbling walls and no roof.
The grounds are overgrown with weeds, and the playground equipment is rusted and unsafe.
This initiative aims to create further opportunities to partner with youths in business.
“We are committed to providing a safe and supportive environment for our young people.
“This visit has shown us the urgent need for investment in this facility, and we will work tirelessly to make it happen.” Adebowale stated.
The officials also met with local youth and community leaders, who expressed their enthusiasm for the project and offered their voluntary support in whatever ways that may be required.
“This Youth Center was once the heart of our community,” said one resident. “We are thrilled to see the government taking steps to bring it back to life.”
Present at the visitation were Oyo State Youth agency directors and coordinators.
Other attendees included Hon. Wahab Daud Temitope, Engr. Femi Afolabi, Hon. Sakiru Ojo, Oyo East local government Legislative Arms, and several others.