The Executive Director of the Future Builders Initiative and leader of the Ogun Youth Agenda Project Team, Opeyemi Oladimeji, has raised concerns over Ogun State’s failure to domesticate the National Youth Policy, introduced by the Federal Government in 2019.
Speaking at a town hall meeting themed “Building an Inclusive Future: Youth Voices in Policy and Development” in Abeokuta, Oladimeji urged the state government to pass a bill establishing the Ogun State Youth Development Commission. He argued that the commission is essential for implementing youth-focused policies in a structured and sustainable manner.
Oladimeji noted that states such as Lagos, Ekiti, Osun, and Oyo have already adopted the policy and, in some cases, created youth development commissions, while Ogun and Ondo have yet to do so. He stressed that domestication is the foundational step towards meaningful policy execution.
According to him, the proposed commission would provide a permanent institutional framework for youth affairs, secure direct funding, strengthen accountability, and ensure the continuity of youth programmes beyond political administrations. He also called on Governor Dapo Abiodun to establish a full Ministry of Youth Development to drive policy implementation.
Chairperson of the Nigerian Youth Congress, Ibirogba Adesewa, supported the proposal, stating that a dedicated ministry would unify youth initiatives and unlock the potential of young people across the state. She emphasized that the demand was not confrontational but a strategic appeal for inclusive governance.
Responding on behalf of the state government, the Special Adviser on Youth Affairs, Alhaji Olamide Lawal, confirmed that Governor Abiodun has approved the establishment of a Ministry of Youth Development, which would soon be operational to enhance youth engagement.
At the national level, the Minister of Youth Development, Ayodele Olawande, recently reiterated the Federal Government’s commitment to harnessing the potential of Nigeria’s youth for economic and social transformation, noting that government initiatives are increasingly focused on bridging the gap between education and employability.
Nigeria currently has over 57 million young people, yet many continue to face unemployment, poverty, and limited access to quality education—issues stakeholders say can be addressed through institutional reforms such as those proposed in Ogun State.
