17/09/2026
Oyo 2027: Beyond Political Appointments: What Should Youth Empowerment Really Mean? || by Bamitale Ibrahim Holly
Youth empowerment should not be measured simply by the number of young people appointed into political offices. It should also be assessed by how many young people acquire relevant skills, gain access to capital, secure sustainable opportunities and are enabled to become economically independent.
During Governor Seyi Makinde’s first term, I was among the Oyo youths who participated in the Youth Entrepreneurship in Agribusiness Project (YEAP), through which 3,300 young people were trained at CSS Global Integrated Farms in Nasarawa State. The programme exposed participants to areas including agribusiness, animal husbandry, irrigation, fisheries and value-chain development.
The training was valuable. However, training alone does not necessarily create sustainable entrepreneurs.
From my personal experience, the immediate assistance I received after the programme was a ₦10,000 transport allowance. Beyond that, I did not receive the kind of sustained support that would have enabled me to translate the knowledge and experience gained from the training into a viable enterprise.
This raises an important question: What happens to young people after government-sponsored training programmes?
Government empowerment programmes should not end with training, photographs and certificates. Their effectiveness should also be assessed by what happens to beneficiaries afterwards whether they receive follow-up support, access to finance, mentorship, market opportunities and other mechanisms that can help them build sustainable livelihoods.
There has also been an announcement concerning the ₦1.5 billion YEAP-SAfER intervention targeting 1,000 young agripreneurs, with ₦1.5 million earmarked for each beneficiary. A disbursement ceremony was held in March 2026.
Beyond ceremonies and announcements, however, there is a need for clear and verifiable information about the beneficiaries, the disbursement process, the funds actually received by beneficiaries and the measurable outcomes of the intervention.
Oyo youths deserve empowerment programmes that can be accessed, utilised and measured.
There is also an important distinction between youth representation in government and youth economic empowerment.
Governor Makinde’s appointment of 27-year-old Seun Fakorede as Commissioner for Youth and Sports in 2019 represented the inclusion of a young person in a senior government position. That is an example of political representation.
But the appointment of a young person into government does not, by itself, address the broader economic challenges facing the state’s youth population.
Young people also need opportunities in entrepreneurship, agriculture, vocational training, technology, employment, access to finance, mentorship and meaningful participation in governance at the grassroots.
Political representation and economic empowerment are related, but they are not the same thing.
As another political cycle approaches, the conversation on youth development in Oyo State should therefore go beyond the question of who will occupy political offices.
Political parties and candidates should be encouraged to present clear, measurable and publicly verifiable plans for young entrepreneurs, farmers, graduates, artisans, professionals and unemployed young people.
What concrete opportunities will young people have after the election?
For me, the lesson from my YEAP experience is simple: training should be the beginning, not necessarily the end.
Young people need skills, but they also need access to capital, support for viable ideas, market opportunities, mentorship, follow-up and mechanisms for measuring results.
As the 2027 political conversation gathers momentum, youth empowerment should be a central issue in the programmes presented to Oyo voters.
The APC and other political platforms should be challenged to clearly articulate their respective approaches to youth development, including skills acquisition, access to capital, agribusiness, employment, entrepreneurship and participation in governance.
Oyo youths should have the opportunity to examine the documented plans of different parties and candidates and assess how those proposals address their economic and social realities.
The 2027 campaign should therefore generate a serious conversation about what young people can become not merely who among them can be appointed.
Youth empowerment should be about creating opportunities for millions more.
