Ekiti State Governor, Biodun Oyebanji, has called on young people across the state to take full advantage of the youth-focused programmes and initiatives introduced by his administration to equip them with skills and improve their economic opportunities.
Oyebanji said the programmes were intended to help young people become economically independent, build viable businesses and contribute to the growth of the state.
He urged the youths “to acquire relevant skills, build sustainable enterprises, and become employers of labour so as to be able to contribute meaningfully to the overall development of the state.”
The governor spoke through the Commissioner for Youth Development, Gold Adedayo, at the International Youth Day Summit organised by the National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN) to mark the 2026 International Youth Day.
According to a statement issued by the Governor’s Special Adviser on Media, Yinka Oyebode, in Ado Ekiti on Monday, Oyebanji said his administration had made youth development a central part of its development plans.
The governor said his administration “has been deliberate and strategic in prioritising youth development as a key component of our development agenda. The decision to establish a dedicated Ministry was borne out of the need to give focused attention to the aspirations, challenges and potentials of young people in the state.”
He said the government had also prioritised “youth development by creating opportunities in entrepreneurship, skills acquisition, digital innovation, agriculture, sports and other sectors.”
Oyebanji listed several measures already implemented to support young people, including financial assistance to youth and student groups, skills development and enterprise support through the provision of tools and start-up funds, innovation and technology platforms, as well as regular engagement with youths.
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As part of his message to mark the occasion, the governor cautioned young people against seeking instant wealth through questionable shortcuts.
“Sustainable success requires discipline, hard work, patience and willingness to develop oneself,” he said.
He assured Ekiti youths that his administration would continue working to create an environment where they could develop their potential, succeed economically and play meaningful roles in the state’s development.
The Speaker of the Ekiti State House of Assembly, Adeoye Aribasoye, also urged young people to take responsibility for shaping their present circumstances and the future of both Ekiti and Nigeria.
Aribasoye said the state government was fulfilling its responsibility by creating conditions that allow young people to innovate, thrive and create wealth.
He urged the youths to “prioritise competence, digital skills, entrepreneurship, agriculture, renewable energy and emerging technologies and use your talents to create sustainable enterprise and employment opportunities.”
Earlier, the Chairman of the NYCN in Ekiti State, Segun Bankole, commended the Oyebanji administration for its focus on youth empowerment and development.
Bankole said, “The various initiatives of the state government are deliberate efforts to create opportunities for young people to become self-reliant and productive members of society.”