Oyo Agency for Youth Development Chairman Marks One Year in Office As Govt to Empower 5,000 Youths With Practical skills, Industrial experience Across the 33 LGAs

…As Govt set to establish technology hub, skill acquisition center to provide training opportunities for young people.

Oyo State Government has expressed readiness to collaborate with the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN) to empower no fewer than 5,000 youths across the 33 local government areas of the state, equipping them with practical skills and industry experience.

This was stated by the Chairman of Oyo State Agency for Youth Development, Prince Adebowale Falana, while addressing journalists at a press conference organized by the agency to commemorate his one year in office.

Falana, who lauded Governor Seyi Makinde for his pro-youth development initiatives aimed at empowering youths, highlighted some of the agency’s achievements in the last year.

According to the Chairman, one of the agency’s interventions was a collaboration with The Polytechnic, Ibadan, aimed at equipping youths with vocational and technical skills.

He also noted that going forward, the agency plans to establish a Technology Hub and Skill Acquisition Center, where young people can access training opportunities for a token fee.

Falana added that the agency has been engaging with youth stakeholders’ groups, including the Association of Oyo State Youth Platforms (ASOYOUP), to ensure that the programs are inclusive and far-reaching.

The Chairman expressed satisfaction that the agency’s efforts towards youth development in the state are yielding positive results.

However, he noted that one of the challenges confronting the agency is the self-entitlement mentality of some youths in the state.

He urged them to commit to hard work and believe in acquiring vocational skills to become reliable and responsible.

Falana said, “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. 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, the Chairman noted that the event is already making a positive impact by changing the orientation of young people towards self-reliance.

He emphasized that one of the major challenges the agency faces is changing the mindset of youths due to the growing spirit of entitlement.

The Chairman concluded by urging Oyo State youths to take full advantage of the opportunities being rolled out by the agency, affirming Governor Makinde’s administration’s commitment to youth development and empowerment.