- Initiative to engage young people on employment, skills development & entrepreneurship
- 3-day event to hold at Nibanola Resort, Ondo, October 2nd – 4th
Days after empowering 20 young entrepreneurs with N3m each, the Ondo State Government has announced plans to hold a comprehensive youth retreat aimed at empowering young people across the state.
The initiative, which will bring together youths irrespective of their political affiliations, is designed to equip participants with skills and knowledge for self-reliance, while also providing a platform for formulating policies to enhance youth development.
During a press briefing at the Governor’s Office in Akure, on Friday, the Commissioner for Youths and Sports Development, Mr. Saka Yusuf-Ogunleye, outlined the objectives of the retreat.
He stated, “This retreat is aimed at empowering and reorienting our youths, equipping them with the necessary tools to become self-reliant. It is part of our broader strategy to foster youth development across the state, regardless of political affiliations.”
Mr. Yusuf-Ogunleye emphasized that the event, which will take place at Nibanola Resort in Ondo town from October 2nd to 4th, 2024, is a public-private partnership initiative.
“The three-day event will offer our youths a platform to showcase their creativity, learn new skills, and engage in discussions that will shape their future,” he added.
The retreat will feature various activities, including exhibitions of creative arts, vocational training, agricultural innovation sessions, talk shows, and award presentations. The initiative is aimed at not only developing the talents of Ondo’s youths but also ensuring they leave with practical skills for their personal growth.
In his remarks, the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Youth Empowerment, Orioye Gbayisemore, disclosed that top entrepreneurs and prominent personalities from Ondo State will be on hand to mentor and inspire the participants, helping them to realize their full potential.
Gbayisemore added that the Minister of State for Youths Development, Mr. Ayodele Olawande, will be one of the special guests at the retreat, while Governor Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa will personally receive a comprehensive policy document on youth development from the retreat.
“Governor Aiyedatiwa will personally receive a documented policy for youth development and will also reward the top 20 best participants with five hundred thousand naira each as a recognition of their innovation and leadership,” he said.
He stated that the retreat is expected to serve as a transformative experience for the youths of Ondo State, as it aligns with the government’s ongoing efforts to prioritize youth empowerment and create sustainable opportunities for the next generation.