…Demand greater youth inclusion, jobs, empowerment, passage of Youth Parliament Bill
More than 900 registered youth organisations across Oyo State have declared their support for candidates of the Allied Peoples Movement (APM) ahead of the 2027 general elections, while also expressing support for the presidential ambition of Governor Seyi Makinde.
The declaration was made on Friday at 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 forum attracted youth leaders and representatives from various registered organisations across the state, alongside APM candidates, government officials, political stakeholders and youth development advocates.
Those in attendance included 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; and other government and political stakeholders.
The participating groups included youth organisations 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), Oyo State Youth Parliament, Yoruba Youth Council, Oke-Ogun Indigenous Youth Solidarity Forum, National Council for Isese Youth Organisations, Association of Entertainment Stakeholders of Oyo State, Association of Female Youth and Students, among others.
At the gathering, the organisations announced their collective endorsement of Adekanmbi and Open Salawu, as well as APM senatorial candidates, House of Representatives candidates, State House of Assembly candidates and other candidates contesting on the party’s platform.
They also reaffirmed their support for Governor Makinde’s presidential ambition, describing the 2027 elections as an opportunity to consolidate what they consider the achievements of his administration and advance issues affecting young people.
The groups pledged to mobilise their members at the grassroots in support of the endorsed candidates, citing continuity, youth empowerment, inclusive governance and increased political representation among their reasons.
However, the youth organisations also presented a number of demands, including greater youth participation in governance and political appointments, employment opportunities, improved mobility support, expanded skills and capacity-building programmes, empowerment initiatives, passage of the proposed Youth Parliament Empowerment Bill and increased funding for youth-oriented constituency projects.
They stressed that young people should not be engaged only during election periods but should also have meaningful opportunities to participate in policymaking, governance and development.
Speaking at the event, Adekanmbi thanked the youth organisations for their confidence in him and other APM candidates.
He described the endorsement as both an honour and a responsibility, assuring the groups that youth concerns would remain central to his administration if elected.
Adekanmbi said young people were already contributing to Oyo State’s development through entrepreneurship, innovation, creative enterprise and community leadership, adding that government must create an enabling environment for them to thrive.
He said the support from the youth represented a responsibility for political leaders to continue advancing the state while creating more opportunities for young people.
Adekanmbi further assured the organisations that their demands and aspirations were reflected in his blueprint for what he described as the continuity and consolidation of the Omituntun legacy in Oyo State.
Also speaking, the APM Oyo South Senatorial candidate, Odidiomo, commended Governor Makinde for what he described as efforts to promote youth development and create opportunities for young people to participate in leadership.
He urged political leaders to see youths as key stakeholders rather than merely election-day voters.
Adedeji also called for greater investment in the creative economy, entrepreneurship and technology, stressing the need to equip young people with skills capable of creating sustainable livelihoods.
He highlighted his proposed plan to establish ICT centres across secondary schools as part of his vision to improve access to digital skills.
The Oyo Central Senatorial candidate, Ajadi Oguntoyinbo, similarly assured the youth organisations that their support would not be taken for granted.
He pledged to remain accessible and responsive to their concerns if elected, while advocating policies and programmes focused on youth empowerment, inclusion and economic opportunities.
Earlier, the Chairman of the Oyo State Agency for Youth Development, Hon. Adebowale Adebayo Falana, commended Governor Makinde for what he described as his commitment to youth development.
Falana highlighted various programmes and interventions of the agency, saying the stakeholders’ engagement was organised to provide registered youth organisations with an avenue to articulate their concerns and participate in discussions concerning their future.
He urged the organisations to maintain their unity and continue constructive engagement with government and political stakeholders beyond the election period.
The forum brought together young people from various sectors, including entertainment, creative industries, artisanship, professional associations, student groups, youth councils and community-based organisations.
The gathering also highlighted calls for greater political representation, employment opportunities, digital skills development, empowerment and increased youth participation in governance.
With the 2027 elections approaching, the youth organisations said they would take their mobilisation efforts to the grassroots, insisting that their endorsement should also translate into sustained engagement and partnership between political leaders and young people in Oyo State.
With God all things are possible
Seyi makinde all the way