Osun State Governor, Mr Gboyega Oyetola, has vowed to continue to initiate projects that would put youths at the helm of development in the state, AMILOADED reports.
Governor Oyetola made the vow while speaking at the launch of the Osun Youth Policy Document in Osogbo, the Osun State capital on Wednesday.
According to the governor, the program became necessary to put the youths at the centre of development in Osun State.
Oyetola, who described the youths as the hope of the state, said his administration has in the last two years delivered quality services and projects across the state in a manner that will sustain the peace and transform the economy of the Osun State.
The governor said, “I am highly delighted to be here today to launch the Osun Youth Policy Document to develop and empower our young people and put them at the centre of the development of the state.
“Youth is a critical stage in the life cycle of human beings because of the admixture of
high energy, enthusiasm, insecurities, ldealism, confusion and challenges that
characterise this unique life stage.
“Youths are the hope of our nation and our state. They are the face and engine of
any meaningful sustainable development. Unfortunately, in our clime, social noms
and practices often exclude them from participating in critical decislon-making
pertaining to their lives and activities with dire consequences.
“Conscious of this misnomer and intent on correcting it to harness the bundle of
energy that characterises youth, our government has in recent times focused its
attentlon on the youth, while designing programmes and projects that impact on
youth empowement, employment and social justice.
“The people, including the youth, are the reason we are in government. Our
administration came into office on the shoulders of development agenda, a
programme carefully created to bring all the sectors and the people into the
development net.”
Oyetola added, “Within two years after coming into office, we have delivered adequate and quality services, projects and programmes across the state in a manner that will sustain the peace in the state, transform the economy, industrialise the state, provide jobs for the people, especially the youth, and provide security and welfare for the people.
“To further demonstrate our commitment to developing our youth, we have developed
a Youth Policy christened the 4 Es: Youth Empowerment, Youth Engagement, Youth
Entrepreneurship and Youth Education.
“The Osun Youth Policy contains commitment by government, the youth of the State
and society in pursuance of youth development and growth. The Policy provides a crucial framework for guiding the State’s approach to ensure that large number of
youths residing in the State is provided with high quality of life.
“As captured in the Policy, youth development is holistic and integrated, requiring the
Support and active involvement of all relevant Ministries, Departments, and Agencles
(MDAs), Youth Organisations, Non Governmental Organisatlons and the Public
Sector, Private Sector and Phllanthropists.
“The Osun Youth play a key role in our development efforts, hence, our administration has enunciated a clear policy framework to ensure that an enabling environment is created for them to maximally realise their creative and productive
potential.
“So far, we have been engaging the Osun youth productively. Loans ranging from
N500, 000 to N2, 500,000 were facilitated for 4,650 people and efforts are on to
increase our beneficiaries.
“We are also determined to use sports as a vehicle for encouraging school enrolment
and retention and talent identification, just as we intend using it to create
opportunities for young people in our rural communities
“Only two days ago, the State Executive Council gave approval for the
commencement of Osun Sports Festival. The first edition will commence in June this
year
“The unveiling of the Osun Youth Policy Document today is to further demonstrate
our administration’s commitment to youth development.
“We shall engage in research and monitoring, while deploying effective evaluation
template to constantly enrich the initiative and to ensure proper and sustainapie
Implementation of the Policy.
“I therefore, recommend the document to all levels of government for accelerated
Implementation as the roles of all stakeholders are clearly spelt out.
“I want to also assure all the youth in the State that this new State Youth Policy vividiy
captures workable strategies for achieving the Youth Development Plan of the present administration and we will do all that is necessary to ensure that in collaboration with other stakeholders, the lofty intention of the Policy is made a reality for our teeming youths.”
Oyetola, therefore, commended the Commissioner and Special Adviser for Youth and Sports, Coordinating Directors, Staff of the Ministry, relevant departments and government agencies, and all stakeholders who contributed to the successful production of the State Youth Policy.
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