...Youth groups demand greater inclusion, jobs, empowerment, passage of Youth Parliament Bill
Over 900 registered youth organisations in Oyo State have declared their support for candidates of the Allied Peoples Movement (APM) ahead of the 2027 general elections, while also reaffirming their backing for the presidential ambition of the Oyo State Governor, Engr. Seyi Makinde.
The declaration was made on Friday during the 2026 Oyo State Youth Stakeholders’ Engagement and Interactive Forum with Registered Youth Organisations, held at the Local Government House Training School, Secretariat, Ibadan.
The gathering brought together youth leaders and representatives of several registered youth organisations across the state, alongside APM candidates, government officials, political stakeholders and youth development advocates.
Among those present were the APM governorship candidate, Hon. Bimbo Adekanmbi; his running mate, Engr. Muftau Open Salawu; Oyo South Senatorial candidate, Hon. Dhikirullah Olajide Stanley Adedeji, popularly known as Odidiomo; Oyo Central Senatorial candidate, Hon. Olufemi Ajadi Oguntoyinbo; Deputy Chief of Staff to the Governor, Hon. Kazeem Adeniyi Adeyinka Bibire, Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters, Hon. Ademola Obafemi Ojo; Chairman, Oyo State Local Government Service Commission, Hon. Akinwale Akinwole (Wolekanle); Director-General of the Bimbo Adekanmbi/Open Salawu Campaign Council, Hon. Nureni Aderemi Adeniran; Deputy Director-General, Hon. Arowosaye Saheed Adeyemi (AROSAD); Baba Siju Lawal; Director of Youth Mobilisation, Bolarinwa Kazeem and other political and youth stakeholders.
The participating organisations included youth groups affiliated with the National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN), Progressive Tradesmen and Artisans Association of Nigeria (PROTAAN), Association of Registered Social Youth Clubs (ARSOYOC), Nigeria Youth Congress (NYC), Coalition of Yoruba Youth Movement (CYY), Federation of Boys and Girls, Oyo State Youth Parliament, Oke-Ogun Indigenous Youth Solidarity Forum, National Council for Isese Youth Organisations, Yoruba Youth Council, Association of Entertainment Stakeholders of Oyo State, Association of Female Youth and Students, among others.
At the forum, the youth organisations announced their collective support for Adekanmbi and Open Salawu, as well as all APM senatorial candidates, the 14 House of Representatives candidates, 32 State House of Assembly candidates, and other candidates contesting under the party’s platform.
They also reaffirmed their support for Governor Makinde’s presidential aspiration, describing the 2027 election as an opportunity to consolidate what they regarded as the gains of his administration and advance the interests of young people in Oyo State.
The youth organisations pledged to mobilise extensively at the grassroots to secure massive votes for the endorsed candidates, stressing that their participation would be driven by the desire for continuity, inclusive governance, youth empowerment and greater political representation.
While declaring their support, the groups also presented a number of demands, including improved mobility support, greater inclusion of youths in governance and political appointments, employment opportunities, expanded capacity-building programmes, empowerment initiatives, passage of the proposed Youth Parliament Empowerment Bill and increased funding for youth-oriented constituency projects.
They maintained that young people should not only be mobilised during elections but should also be given meaningful opportunities to contribute to policy formulation, governance and development.
Speaking at the event, the APM governorship candidate, Hon. Bimbo Adekanmbi, expressed appreciation to the youth organisations for the confidence reposed in him and other candidates of the party.
Adekanmbi described the endorsement as both an honour and a responsibility, assuring the youth that their concerns would remain central to his administration’s agenda if elected governor.
He said young people across Oyo State were already contributing significantly to the state’s development through entrepreneurship, innovation, creative enterprise and community leadership, stressing that government must provide an enabling environment for them to thrive.
According to him, “Having young people across Oyo State look at my journey, believe in what I stand for, and choose to stand with me is a responsibility I hold close to my heart.”
He added that the confidence of the youth was a reminder of the responsibility before political leaders to continue moving the state forward while creating more opportunities for young people.
Adekanmbi assured the youth organisations that their requests and aspirations were reflected in his blueprint for the continuity and consolidation of the Omituntun legacy in Oyo State.
He further pledged to listen to young people and create an administration where their ideas, energy and potential would be harnessed for economic growth, innovation and sustainable development.
Also speaking, the Oyo South Senatorial candidate of the APM, Hon. Dhikirullah Olajide Stanley Adedeji, popularly known as Odidiomo, commended Governor Makinde for what he described as his contributions to youth development and for creating an environment in which young people could aspire to leadership.
Adedeji also applauded the youth organisations for taking an active interest in the political future of the state.
He stressed that young people should not be reduced to mere election-day voters, but should be recognised as important stakeholders in determining the direction of governance.
He said the youth were not seeking token gestures but were prepared to actively participate in shaping their future and contributing to the development of Oyo State.
Adedeji further highlighted the importance of investing in the creative economy, entrepreneurship, technology and other areas capable of creating sustainable opportunities for young people.
He also referenced his vision for the provision of ICT centres across secondary schools, describing the initiative as part of his broader commitment to equipping young people with relevant digital skills for the future.
The Oyo Central Senatorial candidate, Hon. Olufemi Ajadi Oguntoyinbo, also assured the youth organisations that their support would not be taken for granted.
Ajadi pledged to remain accessible and responsive to their needs if elected, promising to support policies and programmes that would promote youth empowerment, inclusion and economic opportunities.
He urged the youth organisations to remain united and committed to their aspirations, stressing that their numerical strength could translate into meaningful political influence when properly organised and channelled toward development.
Earlier in his welcome address, the Chairman of the Oyo State Agency for Youth Development (AYD), Hon. Adebowale Adebayo Falana, commended Governor Seyi Makinde for what he described as his commitment to creating opportunities for young people in the state.
Falana described Makinde as a strong supporter of youth development, noting that the administration had provided various platforms through which young people could acquire skills, participate in governance, pursue entrepreneurship and contribute to the state’s socio-economic development.
He also highlighted some of the programmes and interventions of the Agency, stressing that the engagement was designed to provide a platform for registered youth organisations to interact, articulate their concerns and participate meaningfully in discussions concerning their future.
According to Falana, the collective declaration by the registered youth organisations in support of the APM candidates represented a significant development in youth political engagement in Oyo State.
He urged the participating organisations to sustain their unity and continue to engage constructively with government and political stakeholders beyond the election season.
The forum ultimately provided a platform for young people from diverse sectors, including entertainment and the creative industry, artisanship, professional associations, youth councils, student bodies and community-based organisations to express their aspirations and concerns.
The gathering also underscored the growing demand among young people for greater representation, economic opportunities, digital skills, political inclusion and a stronger role in governance.
With the 2027 elections drawing closer, the endorsement is expected to further intensify political engagement among youth organisations across Oyo State, particularly at the grassroots, where the youth constitute a significant component of the electorate.
The participating organisations maintained that their declaration was not merely an electoral commitment but a call for sustained partnership between political leaders and young people in building a more inclusive, prosperous and development-oriented Oyo State.
