A clarion call was made to Yoruba youths to reawaken their political consciousness and assume responsible leadership roles as a catalyst for regional development, at the Inaugural Public Lecture and Award Ceremony of the South West Youths Movement Agenda, held at the Dome of Bello Hall, University of Ibadan.
The lecture, titled “Reawakening the Political Strength of Yoruba Youth: Pathways to Responsible Leadership and Regional Development,” was presented on behalf of Hon. Ogundipe Stephen Olukayode, popularly known as Omoj’omolo, Member representing Oshodi-Isolo Constituency-01 in the Lagos State House of Assembly, by Bashorun Toyin Adeojo.
Delivering the detailed paper, Bashorun Adeojo conveyed Hon. Ogundipe’s central message that the future of the South-West and Nigeria at large is inseparable from the quality of youth participation in governance. He noted that while Yoruba youths are digitally savvy, educated and entrepreneurial, they remain largely excluded from structured political power due to economic insecurity, weak institutional inclusion, poor civic education and inter-generational mistrust.
The paper examined the demographic and socio-political realities of Yoruba youths, highlighting their aspirations for economic opportunity, security, quality education, healthcare and accountable leadership. Drawing lessons from historical and recent youth movements, the presentation stressed that spontaneous activism, though powerful, must be transformed into sustained political influence through institutions, parties and leadership pipelines.
According to the paper, major constraints confronting youth political strength include underemployment, limited access to party nominations and campaign finance, fragmentation of youth groups and distrust of formal politics. To address these challenges, Hon. Ogundipe proposed an integrated strategy anchored on civic education, leadership development, economic empowerment, party reform, cultural renaissance and strategic digital engagement.
Key recommendations included the establishment of a Yoruba Youth Leadership Academy, mentorship programmes linking young people with experienced public servants, and economic empowerment initiatives tied to civic responsibility. The paper also called for youth quotas within political parties, transparent primary processes, and the creation of youth caucuses with formal consultative roles at legislative and zonal levels.
At the local government level, the lecture advocated youth advisory boards with budgetary oversight and mandatory apprenticeship targets in public projects. For state governments, it recommended funding and accrediting youth leadership academies, seed capital schemes for youth cooperatives, and legal recognition of youth caucuses. Political parties, civil society organisations and the private sector were also urged to play deliberate roles in grooming the next generation of leaders.
An implementation framework spanning short, medium and long-term actions was outlined, alongside clear monitoring and evaluation indicators such as youth voter turnout, representation in party leadership, access to public procurement and measurable policy wins driven by youth caucuses.
The presentation concluded with a strong call to action, urging youths, political parties, traditional institutions, civil society and government to collaboratively defend open pathways for responsible youth leadership rooted in the Yoruba value of omoluabi, character, dignity and service.
Hon. Ogundipe, who serves as the House Spokesperson and Chairman, House Committee on Information Strategy and Security in the Lagos State House of Assembly, reaffirmed through the paper his commitment to policies that empower young people to lead with competence and integrity for the sustainable development of the South-West and Nigeria as a whole.
0 Comments