Commissioner for Youth Affairs, Hon. Olagunju Moshood Olalekan, stood in for Governor Ademola Jackson Nurudeen Adeleke, delivering a galvanising keynote on leadership, enterprise, and digital inclusion.
Hon. Olagunju Moshood Olalekan, the state’s Commissioner for Youth Affairs, read the keynote address on behalf of Executive Governor Senator Ademola Jackson Nurudeen Adeleke at the 4th edition of the Osun Youth Conference and Awards, which resonated with a clarifying call for youthful dynamism yesterday at Adolak Event Centre, Osogbo, Osun State.
The governor’s message at the programme convened by the Special Assistant to the Governor on Youth Mobilisation, Hon. Segun Oyewale, and articulated with vigour by the commissioner, lauded the “peaceful coexistence” of Osun’s young populace and highlighted their burgeoning ventures in entrepreneurship, sport, and technology.
He underscored that the conference’s theme, “The Power of Youth: Rethinking Leadership, Entrepreneurship and Digital Inclusion,” mirrors a forward‑looking blueprint where innovation eclipses convention and digital tools empower rather than divide.
Governor Adeleke reaffirmed his administration’s steadfast commitment to youth development at the programme, which was in collaboration with the Ministry of Youth Affairs, citing the deployment of 10,000 Imole Youth Corps members across teaching, health, and environmental sectors; the appointment of young technocrats to pivotal government roles; and the facilitation of international leadership programmes, including a recent cohort in Canada. He also noted the provision of vocational and technical training to bolster self‑reliance.
In a rallying crescendo, the governor urged attendees to “be bold, be creative, and be inclusive,” reminding them that true leadership is measured by collective advancement, not personal accolades. The event culminated in the Osun Youth Hall of Fame Awards, which honoured outstanding achievers from diverse fields.
Your priorities are our priorities. Together, we shall sculpt a prosperous Osun State that offers equal opportunities for all,” the governor’s speech concluded, eliciting enthusiastic applause and a chorus of “God bless our youths! God bless Osun State! God bless Nigeria!”
The conference, in its fourth year, has solidified its reputation as a catalyst for youthful ingenuity and a showcase of Osun’s emerging leadership pipeline.
The events, however, the event was graced by top dignitaries, including the Commissioner for Youth Affairs, Hon. Olagunju Moshood Olalekan, Dr. Femi Adefila, Hon. Olusola Ajala, Hon. Olaniyan Oyeniyi, Special Adviser to the Governor on Youth Affairs; Hon. Stephen Famokunwa, SSA on Imole Youth Corps; Prince Gbenga Adewole, Osun State PDP Youth Leader; Hon. Abdulmajeed Oyeniyi, Special Assistant to the Governor on Youth Affairs; Hon. Jamiu Popoola Babawale, Special Assistant on Youth and Strategic Engagement; Hon. Ojo Raymond, Special Assistant on Youth Mobilisation; Hon. Adekunle Akinrinade, Special Assistant on Youth in Parliament/Legislative Matters; Mrs. Taiwo Oladunjoye, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Youth Affairs; and Com. Oluwasanmi A. Olabisi, Chairman, Osun Youth and Elders Advanced for Good Governance (O'YEAGG). Also present were other political appointees, ministry staff, and youth stakeholders from across the state.
