Youth development is a most vital requirement for nation building. The strength and future development of a nation depend on it to a large extent. The future of any country is always predicated on its productive force.

A society with an inefficient and irresponsible youth population is not far from the abyss. It will suffer from irreparable damage.

Not surprisingly, therefore, the Oyo State government is seriously committed to the productivity of its youths.

In its efforts to empower the youths in the state, the state government, through the Agency for Youth Development, has trained 1,500 youth entrepreneurs under the Oyo Ajumose Business Leadership Entrepreneurship programme tagged “OYO-ABLE”.

All the beneficiaries of this programme who have completed their business plans will have access to soft loans from the Bank of Industry (BOI) ,in conjunction with the Oyo State government, for small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) development.

The state governor, Senator Abiola Ajimobi, in his 2018 budget speech, noted that about five 5,000 youths were being targeted as beneficiaries of this programme.

This is a noble idea to empower the youths in the state and it will reduce the pressure on government agencies and corporate bodies to provide job opportunities, as the trained youths will create jobs for other youths.

Kudos to the Oyo State government for its policy to ensure that youths are self-reliant and that they have the opportunities to develop their entrepreneurial skills.

It has also encouraged the youth to be risk-takers. They will be visionary, ambitious and courageous with a view to becoming successful and great achievers in life.

Also worthy of mention is the Youth Empowerment in Agricultural Program (YEAP) for youths in the State.

This programme is meant to stimulate the interest of youth in the agricultural sector.

In addition, the current administration recognises the importance of literacy, hence the introduction of of a programme tagged ‘Oyo Nise, Oyo Leko’ in collaboration with the Agency for Adult and Non-Formal Education (AANFE) for. out-of-school youths who are mostly artisans.

The Oyo Nise, Oyo Leko is a programme to educate the out-of-school, artisan. youths to make them literate and compete favourably with their contemporaries.

There is no iota of doubt that all aforementioned policies of Oyo State Government will make the Youths in the state be self reliant, dependent and creator of job opportunities.