The Osun State Ministry of Youth Affairs, under the stewardship of Honourable Commissioner Olagunju Moshood Olalekan and the leadership of the Executive Governor of Osun State, Senator Dr. Ademola Jackson Nurudeen Adeleke, on Tuesday, August 12, 2025, staged a resplendent commemoration of the International Youth Day at Fakunle Comprehensive High School, Powerline Area, Osogbo.
This year’s observance carried the evocative theme: “Youth Advancing Multilateral Cooperation Through Technology and Partnership,” and unfolded through an array of remarkable engagements from interfaith thanksgiving services in mosque and church, an intellectually charged youth conference, and strategic empowerment initiatives, to the Operation Keep Osun Clean drive, ceremonial honours and decorations, and a spirited novelty football match.
A colourful march-past parade by youth organisations from across the state added vibrance to the day, with trophies presented to the champion, the first runner-up, and the second runner-up teams in recognition of their discipline and poise.
The Executive Governor of Osun State, Senator Dr. Ademola Jackson Nurudeen Adeleke, represented by his Deputy, Prince Kola Adewusi, urged the youth to renounce indulgence in narcotics, embrace portable and market-ready skills, and position themselves as indispensable assets to their communities. He commended their dynamism and ingenuity, imploring them to reject all forms of electoral violence and to serve as honourable envoys for their families, their state, and the nation.
Commissioner Olagunju emphasised Governor Adeleke’s resolute prioritisation of youth elevation, demonstrated through a multitude of state-engineered initiatives crafted to accelerate employment, inclusivity, enterprise creation, poverty mitigation, and social empowerment. He spotlighted the inauguration of ten thousand young citizens into the Imọlẹ Youth Corps earlier this year as a visible testament to the administration’s dedication to cultivating a self-reliant generation.
In his goodwill message, Honourable Olagunju (popularly known as OMO) implored the youth to extend full solidarity and constructive cooperation to the current administration in its quest to advance Osun State’s socio-economic stature. He felicitated them on the occasion and urged them to seize every favourable opening for personal mastery and collective excellence.
The grand convocation attracted eminent personalities including Kabiyesi, the Elemrimo of Erimo-Ijesa, Oba (Dr.) Michael Odunayo Ajayi, Arowotawaya II; Commissioner for Political Affairs and Inter-Governmental Affairs, Hon. Biyi Odunlade; Chairman of the Osun State House of Assembly Committee on Health, Hon. Kashope Abolarin; Special Adviser to the Governor on Youth Affairs, Hon. Olaniyan Samsudeen Oyeniyi, The permanent Secretary,Mrs Taiwo Oladunjoye,SSA on Imọlẹ Youth Corps, Hon. Stephen Famokunwa; SA to the Governor on Youth Mobilization, Hon. Segun Oyewale; SA to the Governor on Youth Affairs, Hon. Abdulmajeed Oyeniyi; Hon. Ojo Raymond, SA on Youth and Strategic Engagement; members of the Nigerian Youth Parliament, Hon. Adekunle Akinrinade (Osun Central),Hon. Owolabi Daud(Osun west), Hon. Makinde Iyanuoluwa(Osun East); Permanent Secretaries; General Managers; Executive Secretaries; NYSC State Coordinator, Mr. Ndoma Agbor; National youth council of Nigeria (NYCN), Nigerian Youth Congress (NYC)and delegates from numerous youth bodies across the state.
