Cynthia Ezegwu
The Executive Director of Future Builders Initiative and leader of the Ogun Youth Agenda Project Team, Opeyemi Oladimeji, has expressed concern over Ogun State’s failure to domesticate the National Youth Policy introduced by the Federal Government in 2019.
Oladimeji made the call on Friday during the Ogun Youth Agenda Town Hall Meeting themed “Building an Inclusive Future: Youth Voices in Policy and Development”, held at the Nigeria Union of Journalists Press Centre, Iwe Irohin House, Abeokuta.
He noted that, unlike Lagos, Ekiti, Osun, and Oyo states, which have already domesticated the policy, Ogun and Ondo are yet to do so — a situation he said has slowed the pace of youth development in the two states.
“In 2019, Nigeria launched the National Youth Policy in line with international best practices and directed all states to domesticate it according to their local realities. However, only four South-West states—Oyo, Ekiti, Lagos, and Osun—have complied. Ogun and Ondo are yet to follow suit. Domestication is the first step toward implementation,” Oladimeji said.
He also proposed the establishment of the Ogun State Youth Development Commission through a legislative framework, stressing that the commission would institutionalise youth empowerment and ensure continuity of policies across successive administrations.
“The commission will provide a permanent institutional home for youth affairs, ensuring that policies and programmes are implemented efficiently, monitored effectively, and insulated from political changes. It will also guarantee direct funding for youth development and accountability across ministries and agencies,” he added.
Oladimeji further urged Governor Dapo Abiodun to establish a Ministry of Youth Development to drive the effective implementation of the National Youth Policy in the state.
Also speaking at the event, the Chairperson of the Nigerian Youth Congress (NYC), Ibirogba Adesewa, commended the Abiodun administration for its youth-friendly initiatives but appealed for a dedicated ministry to coordinate empowerment programmes and innovations.
“This call is not a criticism but a constructive appeal. We need an institutional framework that will harness our dreams and energy for state development,” Adesewa said.
In response, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Youth Affairs, Alhaji Olamide Lawal, assured participants that the administration remained committed to youth inclusion and development.
He disclosed that Governor Abiodun had already approved the creation of the Ministry of Youth Development, which would soon commence operations to strengthen youth engagement and empowerment efforts in Ogun State.
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“Governor Abiodun has always supported the youth to thrive in governance, education, health, environment, and industrialisation,” Lawal stated.
Meanwhile, at the national level, the Minister of Youth Development, Ayodele Olawande, has reiterated the Federal Government’s commitment to harnessing the potential of Nigerian youth for national transformation.
Speaking at the 2025 Employability Fair organised by Caleb University, Imota, Lagos, Olawande described young Nigerians as the country’s greatest asset, noting that government policies are being tailored to bridge the gap between academic learning and practical skills.
“The Federal Government is determined to turn our teeming youth population into a productive force for national development,” the minister said.
Nigeria, Africa’s most populous nation, has an estimated 218.5 million people, with 57 million youth, many of whom still face challenges such as poverty, unemployment, and limited access to quality education despite their immense potential.