…Lists job schemes, MSME loans, agriculture clusters for youth inclusion

Ekiti State Governor, Mr Biodun Oyebanji, has again called on young people in the state to arm their educational qualifications with vocational skills, entrepreneurship training, and practical know-how to reduce dependency and build self-sufficiency.

The Governor made the call during the 3rd edition of his senatorial youth engagement platform, “Youth, Let’s Talk With BAO 3.0,” which held across the state’s three senatorial district headquarters — Ido-Ekiti (North), Ikere-Ekiti (South), and Ado-Ekiti (Central) between June 24 and 26, 2025.

Represented by the Commissioner for Youth Development, Hon. Adesola Gold Adedayo, the Governor stated that the initiative was created to deepen youth inclusion, foster civic participation, and bring governance closer to the grassroots.

Commissioner Adedayo, speaking on behalf of Governor Oyebanji, warned that academic degrees alone were no longer sufficient for economic survival in today’s Nigeria.

“Going by the data we have in our ministry, 70 percent of Ekiti’s population is made up of youth. The government cannot employ all of them. What is important is empowerment — and that’s what Governor Oyebanji is prioritising,” he said.

He explained that the government was not only recruiting into the civil service, teaching, and aviation sectors, but also facilitating entrepreneurial and technical capacity through programmes that provide soft loans, tools, and MSME grants to skilled youth.

“If you’re good at what you do even without a white-collar job someone, somewhere needs your service. This is the new economy we must teach our young people to embrace,” Adedayo noted.

Across the three senatorial events, thousands of youth leaders, beneficiaries of empowerment schemes, and student groups declared their full support for Oyebanji’s re-election and continuation in office till 2030.

They cited his achievements across job creation, agriculture, youth-in-agriculture schemes, and digital empowerment.

Beneficiaries highlighted include: Thousands of civil service and teaching recruits, Youth inclusion in agricultural cluster schemes, Access to business funding via Bank of Industry, SMEDAN, and Bank of Agriculture, and “Ojuse BAO” cash and equipment grants to traders and artisans.

The Governor’s Six-Pillar Development Agenda spanning Governance, Youth Development, Human Capital, Infrastructure, Agriculture, and Tourism  was also praised for offering structured roadmaps to real empowerment.

While commending the Governor’s programmes, youth delegates at the forums demanded broader inclusion in agriculture schemes and strict merit-based recruitment.

The Commissioner responded, urging local council chairmen and traditional rulers to allocate at least 10 hectares of land per LGA to enable youth farming initiatives to take root in more areas.

He reiterated the ministry’s open-door policy: “We are here to develop, engage, and empower the youth. If you need details on ongoing programmes, follow us online or visit our ministry. We will engage you and provide necessary guidance,” Adedayo said.

One of the highlights came from Michael Kolawole, a youth entrepreneur in Ado-Ekiti who testified that he had used a Bank of Industry loan, facilitated by the state, to build a successful bakery business generating steady income.

“I am a product of Governor Oyebanji’s youth empowerment. My bakery is growing, and I’m employing others today. Thank you for not just talking, but doing,” he said.

The event ended with a commitment from the organisers to compile all suggestions, challenges, and goodwill messages shared by the youth and present them directly to the Governor for swift action.

“This is not a political jamboree. It is real-time governance, and our youths are now part of the process,” Commissioner Adedayo added.