The Osun Youth Agenda, a youth development group in Osun State, has chart a development course for Governor Gboyega Oyetola on what his administration should do for the youths of the state.
Bukola Idowu, Coordinating Director Osun Youth Agenda Hub, in a press conference, urged the government to see to the development of key policy, creation of policy as well as youth employment scheme.
Idowu stated that there is need to set a roadmap that will address the needs of the youth, take away violence, civil despondency and all sorts of anti-social behaviour.
The group also noted that youth development in Osun State need to start by having a dedicated Osun Youth Development Commission (OYDC) with a clear strategic developmental plan to discharge its mandate.
Osun Youth Development Commission (OYDC) Osun Youth Development Commission (OYDC) in her mandate shall exclusively address the priority developmental needs of Osun youth, which includes ensuring quality education, promoting agriculture, Improving health care delivery as identified by the Youth Priority Need Survey and the consultative approaches, creating jobs and economic development opportunities through a legally
established independent and recognized institution to build on the efforts of the past administrations.
Highlighting some of the key areas of development Governor Oyetola should focus on said, “Osun Youth as captured in the agenda brochure said Osun State Government should set up Osun Youth Development Commission with a clear strategic plan. OYDC in her operation will have designated departments that oversee youth-related matters such as; Osun Drug Abuse Response Department (O’DARD) which will provide Primary (Education and Sensitization), Secondary (Treatment e.g. smoking cessation programs) and Tertiary (Rehabilitation and reintegration) interventions to curb the menace of drug abuse in the state as we have many young people that are engage in drug abuse.
“Develop an operationalized Youth Development Policy that will accommodate Youth Employment Policy
“Establishment of 3-Youth Friendly Health Centers (One per Senatorial District) through public- private partnership equipped with facilities that can attract young people (e.g. Wi-Fi, Games, Viewing Centers etc.) to provide integrated health services such as Mental Health Services, Sexual Reproductive Health Services etc.
“Upgrade OYES. Reduce the two years to one year, provide a sustainable plan for the volunteers through seed capital from the lump sum gotten from the other year, follow up process and training on business development and management for beneficiaries.
“Rejuvenate youth targeted agricultural scheme with single digit interest loan and subsidize agricultural inputs to encourage youth in agriculture and increase production.”
The group stressed the State Government must ensure the adequate provision of teaching and instructional materials e.g. textbooks (especially Literature, Mathematics, Accounting, English and other science subjects), ICT laboratory equipment, well equipped libraries for primary and secondary schools in the state.
“Establishment of a well-equipped youth Business Innovation Hub, and Skill Acquisition Center, collaborating with existing federal government agencies and private establishment where necessary,” the group added.
OYA also tasked the government to improve on its achievements by seeing the youth as a major stakeholder in the development of the state and also give more budgetary allocation towards youth developmental issues as contained in the OYA.
“We call on the Osun state House of Assembly and its leadership to look into the key issues as regards OYA and provide necessary legislative support towards the actualization of the same and make the OYA a key component of the legislative agenda for the 7th assembly.
“We call on all young people in Osun to support this developmental plan and start engaging their elected officials toward prioritizing this agenda,” the group stated.
