The Governor of Osun State in southwest Nigeria, Ademola Adeleke, has inducted 10,000 youths into the Imole Youth Corps, a pet project of the administration designed to empower youths across the state.
The governor, who described youths as pillars of growth and development, noted that the occasion highlighted his administration’s push to address youth joblessness.
Adeleke said the drive would make the youths more productive while stemming unemployment and idleness.
“Today’s gathering is a continuation of our efforts to provide job opportunities for our teaming youth. Ten thousand youth spread across the 332 political wards are engaged to provide services in the area of health, security, environment and education.
“The newly enrolled Imole Youth Corps members are to be trained to deliver support services across the grassroots economy and sectors,” he said.
The governor, while charging members of the corps to demonstrate commitment wherever they are assigned, said his government would continuously support youths in the state to achieve their dreams.
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He described the Imole Youth Corps as one of the innovative ways his government intended to adopt to tackle youth unemployment, stating that more programmes of support had been outlined for them.
“Our first decision is to create an enabling environment for job creation by both the government and the private sector. Part of actions taken so far by the administration is to provide financial support to small businesses through cooperative movement, statewide infrastructure upgrade and the recent launching of the agropreneur programme.
“Through small business financing, this administration has provided lifeline and operational loans to thousands of grassroots entrepreneurs. Over Four Billion naira has so far been committed to this revolving loan scheme,” he said.
Adeleke then directed the Commissioner for Youth Development, Moshood Olagunju, to enforce a performance evaluation system to ensure that the goals of the programme are realised.
He assured the public that the activities of the Imole Youth Corps would be subjected to regular performance evaluation for sustainability.
In his address, the Commissioner for Youth Development congratulated the corps members and tasked them with being good ambassadors of the newly created youth engagement platform.
“I commend Mr. Governor and the entire members of the State Executive Council on the successful takeoff of the programme. Governor Adeleke has demonstrated now and then his love and passion for youth development,” the commissioner said.
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