Dapo Abiodun Celebrates Ogun Youth with Empowerment, Reassures Youth Inclusion and Sustainable programmes

By Gbenga Gbotifa
It was a day to remember at June 12, Cultural Centre Kuto, Abeokuta on 22nd December, 2022 as various youth movements, groups and interuest all gathered for 2023 end of the year party.
The annual youth programme was electrifying enough to put glitz and glamour on the faces of youth and will forever go down in history as the biggest Youth engagement party the state has ever witnessed. This year Edition of Dapo Abiodun Youth Party was like no other as it features Lecture and panelist sessions, bringing prominent Ogun leaders and stakeholders together to merry and discuss the future.
With the theme, Ogun Youth; Arising From Networking To Stardom pegged as direction that birthed the lecture topic, ‘The Role Of The Youth In Achieving Sustainable Peace and Development In Ogun State’ draw the youth massively out from all the 20 local governments of the state and also had various Youth movement in attendance.
With accreditation of over 3,000 youth as early as 12:55am, the auditorium was filled to capacity. Speaking at the occasion, the guest lecturer, a former Commissioner For Youth and Sport in Ogun state, Hon. Bukola Olopade charges the youth to be proactive and purposeful with their intentions. Using various parameters as sustainable indices for maintaining peace, he said, the role of the youth can never be overemphasized as the youth in various units and communities that makes the state are first sheriff and gatekeepers of any successive government.
He further stressed, learning and technology should be deployed by the youth to address various ailing set backs the state has witnessed in the last few years. While appreciating the Governor of Ogun state for keeping his promise of youth driven administration, he also commended him for his foresight in using sports as commanding nexus of bringing development to the state. He said, Ogun youth cannot afford to fail the state and with indivisible bond, together we continue to be rising stars.
Buttressing the Guest Speaker position of having the youth in policy formulation and implementation, Mrs Sonde – Ikoko Iyanuoluwa, one of the panelist, stressed the need of having government taps into the avalanche talents and resources available for youth in the state. Coming from a non Government sector and as private individuals in business of empowerment, she noted the developmental stride of the current administration in Ogun state and having a discussion that will create a pathway for peace and development. Assuring the youth, ‘I’m in the business of empowerment as well, and we do this frequently through our sustainable PAD initiative.
Shortly, after the sessions cum discussion, the raffle draw under precipices of empowerment was carefully supervised by Hon. Kola Shoremi and Akintunde Lekan, with items like Food items, Rice, indomitable, Spaghetti, cooking pots, gas, blender and cash incentives for 20 youth, one per local government and other electrical items shared and distributed to the fantasy of the youth.
Showing appreciation to the Governor and all party leaders for supporting the idea of bringing the youth together in a party and colourating this year youth programme with an empowerment, the Convener, and former Special Assistant to the Governor on Youth, Hon Rasheed Aroboto, noted the arousing reception enjoyed since the birth of the idea from govt. “Our listening leaders have been ever supportive he affirmed. They welcomed the idea with open arms and polished it with good incentives to mark the season of love. Our appreciation and gratitude are no bounds for their support. Aroboto further sue for peace and unity amongst the youth-force in the state, “it is only when we are together and United that we can drive a common course and get everything from our leaders, and as a stakeholder in the state, we will not be tired of preaching and maintaining orderliness towards achieving sustainable peace”, he concluded.
The party continued after the empowerment and the youth danced to the melodies tunes of the band and DJs till dusk.

