𝐀 𝐃𝐚𝐲 𝐨𝐟 𝐉𝐨𝐲 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐅𝐮𝐥𝐟𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐄𝐤𝐢𝐭𝐢 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐬- 𝐓𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐤 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐆𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐨𝐫 𝐁𝐢𝐨𝐝𝐮𝐧 𝐀𝐛𝐚𝐲𝐨𝐦𝐢 𝐎𝐲𝐞𝐛𝐚𝐧𝐣𝐢

Today, I feel immense joy and fulfillment. As the Speaker of the Ekiti State Youth Parliament then (3rd Assembly, 2019-2023), alongside other youth leaders from various organizations, we worked tirelessly to create a working document—the Ekiti State Youth Policy. This document was designed to serve as a framework for meaningful engagement and collaboration between the government and the youth of our state.

Our journey began with days of intense deliberation at the Ministry of Youth and Sports Development and Koltotel Hotel, where I had the privilege of coordinating along with others the process and with our dedicated consultants, under the guidance of the then Honorable Commissioner for Youth and Sports Development, Hon. Michael Awopetu(whose interest in having a youth policy is commendable). While the policy was produced, it required further refinement and ratification to become more robust and effective.

I extend my heartfelt gratitude and congratulations to the current Honorable Commissioner for Youth Development, Hon. Adesola Gold Adedayo, for recognizing the value of this document and ensuring it was not discarded. He took greater steps forward in ensuring this became a reality. Today, we celebrate the activation of this vital instrument for youth engagement with the government—a significant milestone for our state. Thank you Hon Commissioner.

I must also commend the 4th Session of the Ekiti Youth Parliament, under the leadership of my esteemed successor, Rt. Hon. Tunde Olusanya. His team carried the torch forward, making substantial and impactful contributions to the policy. Congratulations to all who played a role in this achievement.

Permit me to express our profound appreciation to 𝐇𝐢𝐬 𝐄𝐱𝐜𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐲, 𝐁𝐢𝐨𝐝𝐮𝐧 𝐀𝐛𝐚𝐲𝐨𝐦𝐢 𝐎𝐲𝐞𝐛𝐚𝐧𝐣𝐢, a true promise keeper. Throughout the electioneering period, he assured us of his commitment to youth inclusion, empowerment, and development. True to his word, he has established a stand-alone Ministry of Youth Development, facilitated youth employment, and appointed young leaders into key positions—demonstrating his unwavering dedication to our growth and success.

Your Excellency, we are genuinely grateful for your steadfast support and leadership. Today marks a new chapter in Ekiti State as our Youth Policy becomes fully operational.

Congratulations to all stakeholders. Together, we continue to build a brighter future for Ekiti youths!

𝐑𝐭. 𝐇𝐨𝐧 𝐓𝐨𝐛𝐚 𝐅𝐚𝐭𝐮𝐧𝐥𝐚 -𝐅𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐞𝐫 𝐒𝐩𝐞𝐚𝐤𝐞𝐫 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐄𝐤𝐢𝐭𝐢 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐭𝐡 𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐥𝐢𝐚𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭.

-𝐒𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐀𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐆𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐨𝐫 𝐨𝐟 𝐄𝐤𝐢𝐭𝐢 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐨𝐧 𝐒𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐢𝐜𝐞 𝐃𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲.