Osun election: APC candidate eyes creative, sports industries to empower youths

By Shina Abubakar Osogbo

The Osun State gubernatorial candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Mr. Bola Oyebamiji, AMBO, has assured that youths will be the fulcrum of his administration’s decision-making if elected governor.

He added that his leverage the numerous opportunities available in the creative and sports industry to drive youth development and enhance inclusion in governance.

Oyebamiji gave the assurance during the Osun Youths Interactive Session held at Adolak Event Centre, Osogbo, where youths from different sectors, including students, professionals, civil society organisations, artisans, community groups and other  clusters, engaged him on his vision for the state.

The interactive session, organised by the Directorate of Youths, Students of the APC  campaign council, was designed as a platform for young people to understand the APC candidate’s PROSPERITY Agenda and engage directly on issues affecting their future.

Oyebamiji expressed confidence in his electoral prospects, noting that his campaign engagements across the 30 local government areas of Osun State had provided him with direct understanding of the expectations and aspirations of the people.

“We shall be duly elected come August 15th. This is because we have traversed all the 30 local government areas of the state in three different periods: the pre-primary period, the period of inaugurating the party canvassers, and finally the direct campaign interface with the people of Osun State,” he said.

On youth development, he said, “sport is a critical sector capable of driving economic growth and creating opportunities for young people. We have been holding strategic consultations on sports development and envisioned a strong sports club in the Southwest where governors across the region could collaborate to promote sporting excellence”.

Earlier, the Chairman of the Directorate, Mr. Ayodele Asalu (Asler), described the gathering as more than a political meeting, noting that it was designed as an open conversation between the candidate and young people across different backgrounds.

Asalu said the future of Osun State required young people to be active participants in governance rather than merely being mobilised during elections. He stressed that issues such as education, employment, skills development, entrepreneurship, technology, creative economy and youth participation in government remained central to the concerns of young people.

Also, the Chairman of the Planning Committee, Kehinde Ayantunji, while discussing the expectations of the interactive section, said the current administration in the state has destroyed sports infrastructure and has little or no achievement on youth development.

According to him, for almost four years, the state has not had a common football pitch to play ordinary local league while the youth virtuous values have been replaced with brigandage and thuggery, which makes the youth population less productive.

The Lead Discussant, Dr. Lekan Olatunji, explained that the PROSPERITY Agenda was developed with youth inclusion as a major focus, stressing that young people were involved in shaping the manifesto.

Olatunji highlighted key areas of the agenda, including improved education, skills development, support for small and medium enterprises, talent development, creative economy, sports, agriculture and youth-focused wealth creation initiatives.

Chairman of the occasion, Eng. Olamilekan Badmus urged the youths to vote massively for Asiwaju Munirudeen Bola Oyebamiji in the August 15 Governorship election, assuring the youth that the future and economic prosperity of the state is secure under Oyebamiji.

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